VENEZUELAN REFUGEE CRISIS
by Hana Bloom-Wang
ABOUT THE CRISIS
The Venezuelan Refugee Crisis is a complicated issue. While the U.S. controls nearly all of the media surrounding the crisis in attempt to save face, it is nearly impossible to get unbiased information about the topic. All major news channels are controlled by people with only the U.S. in mind, and mostly fail to provide a full understanding of the events in Venezuela today. In the news, you will likely only hear one perspective of the story. This website will provide a full look onto multiple perspectives, the awful conditions in Venezuela today, the scale of this global crisis, and finally a glimpse at some possible solutions.
"This is a humanitarian crisis like no other in all Latin America history. The region as a whole will never be the same after what has been going on."
Eduardo Stein
OVERVIEW
The Venezuelan Refugee Crisis began four years ago. Today, a total of 4.6 million Venezuelans have fled the country, making up about 16% of the nation's total population. The amount of refugees who have left the country is nearly the same amount as the refugees from the Syrian crisis, the biggest refugee crisis in the world. However, there are no signs of this disaster abating. It is expected that by the end of 2020, 6.5 million Venezuelans will be living outside the country. This crisis is due to the economic collapse of the nation, resulting in hyperinflation by over 50 million percent. This state of the nation, paired with the complicated political disagreements, has resulted in suffering for the entire population. But what caused this crisis? How are individuals immediately affected? How is the crisis being handled internationally? And how can we solve it?
SUFFERING
Living conditions and migration drivers
Today, there are 300% more undernourished people in Venezuela than there were in 2012. Hundreds of thousands of people don't have access to vital healthcare. Venezuelan citizens lack clean water, electricity, and essential public services, and the widespread violence has become normalized due to lack of intervention by the government. Not only are homes unsafe and unfit to live in, but so are public places like schools and hospitals. Power and water supplies are irregular and short-lived, if existent. Food is scarce, of poor quality, and unreasonably expensive, often forcing families to choose between basic necessities. Nearly the entire population is in extreme poverty with no foreseeable way out. These conditions have caused Venezuelans to flee to neighboring countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Furthermore, the convoluted political situation has only exacerbated this state of emergency further. Although President Maduro has the support of many Venezuelans and military control, Juan Guaidó recently declared himself president. Countries like the U.S. and most major international powers are backing Guaidó because he has their powerful oil interests in mind. Currently, there is a lot of debate about who the legitimate president is, but so far neither is actively solving the ever-escalating humanitarian crisis.
ECONOMY
Economic collapse and hyperinflation
The famine, violence, and infrastructural issues in Venezuela are due to the suffering economy. While many news companies attribute this collapse to mishandling by the previous president Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolás Maduro, the reality of the collapse is due to U.S. oil sanctions that have restricted Venezuela's main source of profit.* With these new enforcements, oil prices have plummeted, causing the economy to contract by over 45% from 2013-2018. In 2018, 94% of Venezuelans were below the poverty line. By 2019, the minimum wage was $5.43, which covers less than 3% of basic food needs for a family of five.
FAMINE
Only a tiny portion of the food demand can be met
In Venezuela, 84% of basic, essential food items are missing. Both national food production and imports from other countries are far from substantial. The national food production rates have decreased by over 60%, and 90% of the population's incomes are insufficient to feed their families. People are forced to skip meals, leaving over 6.8 million Venezuelans undernourished. Children suffer from acute malnutrition, resulting in stunted brain growth, damage to the nervous system, and even premature death.
HEALTHCARE
Lack of healthcare insurance and vital medicines
By 2016, 70% of all medicine imports had already disappeared. For Venezuelans, it is extremely hard to find the healthcare they need; 85% of vital medicines can't be found. This means for every 10 medications necessary, only 1.5 can be located. Patients with life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart problems, diabetes, HIV, and other chronic illnesses receive little to no care. Existing care for people with health insurance is poor and irregular, leaving hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans at risk of death. Emergency rooms, if lucky, have about half of their necessary supplies while 70% of hospitals experience frequent electrical and water shortages. Since the economic crisis, the number of infant and maternal deaths have skyrocketed along with numerous preventable deaths, all due to the lack of essential medicine and care.
DISEASES
Resurgent diseases and COVID-19
Since the economic crisis began, easily preventable diseases and previously eliminated illnesses have resurfaced. Tens of thousands of cases of measles and Diptheria have emerged, tuberculosis numbers have swelled, and malaria has spread into an uncontainable endemic. In 2017 alone, there were 414,000 cases of malaria. People suffering from AIDS are unable to receive healthcare because it is too expensive. With the recent coronavirus pandemic, the country's crisis has been exacerbated further. Not only are Venezuelans too poor to afford masks, hand sanitizers, and other preventative measures, but the healthcare system is also alarmingly weak. When the Venezuelan government turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a boost in financing to bolster the nation's healthcare system, their request was declined. The IMF doesn't recognize Maduro as the legitimate president and will not support Venezuela unless Guaidó assumes leadership. Instead, the country has turned to support from the World Health Organization, Cuba, and China, but their health system is still in shambles.
SECURITY
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Crime, homicide, and widespread violence
Venezuela is the most violent country on the continent. The number of violent deaths in Venezuela is around a hundred per 100,000 people, or double the amount of El Salvador which has the second greatest amount of violent deaths. Venezuelans constantly face kidnappings, armed robberies, and gruesome occurrences. In 2017, the government created a military unit called the Special Action Force (FAES) in an attempt to repress drug trafficking and crime. However, FAES ended up majorly increasing the number of violent deaths in the neighborhoods they occupied. In fact, a third of all homicides in Venezuela are caused by extrajudicial executions. Today, Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is the third most violent city in the world.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Suppression and torture of protesters
FAES targets protesters and activists, particularly those found in very poor neighborhoods. There is very little room for freedom of speech or expression, yet a lot of room for excessive force and brutality from the government. Tens of thousands of people have been detained for political reasons and subject to major criminal charges, degrading treatment, and even torture. Furthermore, Venezuelans have been fired, detained, even exiled for demanding better wages and working salaries or criticizing the healthcare system and universities they work for. The suppression of civil and political rights showcase the lack of freedom for citizens.
REFUGEES
Venezuelans in other countries
The main host countries of Venezuelan refugees within the region are Columbia (1.4 million refugees), Peru (853,400), Ecuador (330,400), and Chile (288,200). Millions of refugees are spread throughout the Caribbean, making up 15% of the islands' populations. These numbers grow larger every day. However, it is extremely difficult to get the necessary documents for immigration from the Venezuelan government such as criminal records, passports, and other forms of identification. These requirements put in place by host countries were intended to organize and monitor the incoming refugees, but have instead forced Venezuelans to enter the countries without a proper visa.
LACK OF FUNDING
The steadily increasing number of refugees in host regions has put substantial strain on these countries. The stress placed on their health and education systems, paired with competition for jobs and public services, has led to rising xenophobia against Venezuelans. Unable to support so many refugees, many host countries such as Peru, Chile, and Ecuador have recently implemented highly restrictive immigrant measures. This has led to many asylum-seekers being refused at the border, forcing them to return to their difficult circumstances in Venezuela. The reason for the migrants' rejection is lack of funding. Unlike the Syrian refugee crisis of the same scale, which the international community has provided over $17 billion of funding for, the Venezuelan refugee crisis has only received a fraction of the support. While funding per Syrian refugee is about $3,000 dollars, each Venezuelan refugee only receives $100-200. Both the individuals and the host nations require far more funding in order to assimilate refugees and support infrastructure and employment development in host regions.
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THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE
What they want you to believe
The degenerate state of the economy, widespread poverty, and crippled infrastructure in Venezuela is due to the corrupt leadership of President Nicolás Maduro and years of economic mishandling. Not only has Maduro acted as a cruel and oppressive dictator, but he has also failed to address the various crises plaguing the nation, causing poverty and forcing people from the country into other neighboring regions. With a firm grasp of the military, he remains in control, while simultaneously endorsing violent gangs across Venezuela. Almost no country internationally recognizes Marudo as the legitimate president and his supporters within the nation are forced to bolster him, lest they face the wrath of his merciless army and authoritarian regime. However, self-proclaimed president Juan Guaidó has intentions of restoring Venezuela's democracy, economy, and healthcare systems. He has the support of nearly every international country and the ability to restore Venezuela to its previous prosperity. Not only will he be able to repair the nation that has collapsed under Maduro's failed leadership, but he will also be to end the refugee crisis forcing millions of Venezuelans from their home.
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This is what they want you to believe.
THE UNTOLD PERSPECTIVE
The hidden truth
In reality, Juan Guaidó's self-proclamation as the legitimate president of Venezuela is a coup by the U.S. in an attempt to oust President Maduro and his government. After the U.S. imposed strict oil sanctions on Venezuela, stifling the foundation of their economy and causing this crisis in the first place, they began endorsing Guaidó, who has America's financial interests in mind.* In the U.S, numerous influential media sources have fabricated stories about the Maduro agenda, taking extreme actions in order to save face. After Maduro was elected as president by the Venezuelan people, not only did the U.S. claim the election was a fraud but also forged various claims about cruel, corrupt, and unwise actions on his part. The U.S. believes it is within their power to make up any story they feel will frame Maduro as evil and Guaidó as the nation's savior. For the most part, their lies have worked. Companies such as the New York Times, which are thought by most Americans to be reliable and accurate, have promoted these stories and further warped the Venezuelan reality. Certainly, the Maduro government is far from perfect; there are many issues with both opposition parties. His regime has been both repressive and highly reliant on military enforcement of policies. Many people oppose Guaidó, yet have serious concerns with Maduro as well. But as long as the U.S. continues to intervene in a crisis Venezuela needs to handle, the crisis will not be solved and the Venezuelan people cannot elect a government that supports their fundamental needs.
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America is only aggravating the refugee crisis.
FUNDING AND REFUGEE RECOGNITION
Support for host nations and asylum-seekers
While the political aspects driving the crisis and forcing Venezuelans from the country need to be solved, so do the restrictions preventing refugees from finding places of asylum. One solution for this is to recognize all Venezuelans as a group of refugees. This way, they don't have to go through the tedious and expensive process of getting the necessary papers, and it will save migrant officials a lot of time. So far Brazil is the only country to have taken this step but hopefully, other nations will follow suit. However, this still leaves the issue of insufficient funding, which results in host regions being unable to support the inflow of migrants. Unlike every other major refugee crises around the world, the Venezuelan refugee crisis only receives a minuscule amount of international support. In 2019, the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan called for $738 million to assist Venezuelans and their host communities. The international community funded less than 24% of this plan between all of them. This money would have been used to create job opportunities, promote cultural integration, and sustain host governments working to respond to the crisis. If carried out, the plan would have helped 2.2 million Venezuelans and hundreds of thousands of citizens in host communities. However, the dozens of countries responsible for this plan could not get it together to save countless lives. It isn't as if they are short of money. For example, the Trump administration recently decided to spend $2 trillion to boost the economy. That's $2,000,000,000,000. To fund the rest of this response plan, all that was needed was 0.03% of this economic boost. Yet the well-being of the economy is somehow more important than millions of lives? And it isn't as if there aren't plenty of billionaires who could've lent a hand. Take Jeff Bezos, for instance. His net worth is $143.1 billion. If he donated less than 0.4% of this money, he could single-handedly fund the rest of the refugee response plan. With less than 0.4% of his money, he could bring millions of people out of poverty, famine, and violence and into a well-supported host community. To scale this down: Jeff Bezos has $143 and $0.56 is needed to fund the rest of this plan. Fifty-six cents. If you had $143 in your bank account, would you give $0.56 to save millions of lives?
SOLUTIONS
LIFT U.S. OIL SANCTIONS
The U.S. oil sanctions are the root of the crisis in the first place. By refusing to purchase Venezuelan oil, they are cutting off the country's main source of income (over 95% of Venezuela's export revenue is oil), leaving it unable to function.* Moreover, they have imposed harsh penalties on any Venezuelan refinery that works under Maduro, trying to push him out and ultimately destroying the Venezuelan economy.
RE-ELECTION
While most Venezuelans agree that Guaidó is not the right move for their country, many do not support President Maduro either. Although he is in a difficult situation with the state of the country after U.S. intervention, there are many problematic aspects of his leadership. Instead, another presidential election with new candidates is ideal to find a good leader suited to restoring the country from its impoverished state.
IMPASSE
If nothing is done, both sides will most likely remain at an impasse. In this case, the socio-economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leaving Venezuelans worse than ever. More and more of the population will be forced to flee the country, only aggravating the stress on neighboring regions and intensify the xenophobia towards Venezuelans.
A GLOBAL ISSUE
Humanitarian intervention is not a solution; it is only another excuse for the U.S. to meddle in Venezuelan politics. However, the refugee crisis is a global issue. For the 4.5 million and growing Venezuelans seeking asylum in other countries, significant funding needs to be put towards their success in host nations. It is the international community's responsibility to provide refugees with job opportunities, healthcare access, and cultural assimilation, just as they have for refugees of the Syrian, South Sudanian, and Rohingya crises. Only then can Venezuelan leaders begin to sort out the political, economic, and infrastructural aspects of the nation.
*Oil is certainly an awful environmental factor and also needs to be addressed. However, keep in mind that the U.S. is the one endorsing oil extraction and controls much of the oil exports, trade, and sanctions globally.