Yessenia Guarique, 32, and her husband left Venezuela because of the increasing food shortage. Yessenia lives in Rondon III camp in Brazil with their three children, Crisbelles Marinho, twelve, Valeria, nine, and Victoria, one year old. Crisbelles, who has cerebral paralysis and requires medical care, was significantly affected by the lack of food and medicine in Venezuela.
Over 180,000 – of the total 4.5 million – Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled to Brazil to escape political instability and violence in their home country, where inflation is expected to hit 200,000% this year, according to IMF.
The primary entry point for Venezuelans is Roraima, a northern Brazilian statethat is geographically isolated and lacks economic opportunities. The Brazilian government’s “Operation Welcome” program is designed to ensure that refugees are provided with food, shelter, and documentation when they arrive in Brazil.
A voluntary relocation program run by the UN in collaboration with local and federal authorities, civil society, and the private sector has relocated over 15,000 Venezuelans since April 2018 to 50 cities with better integration and livelihood opportunities. The aim is to allow migrants to make a living while putting less pressure on communities along the border.
Yessenia’s husband has been relocated to another region, where he works at a food processing company, and they hope to reunite soon.
