PANAMA CITY – Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, today made an urgent appeal for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to receive more support, as they have welcomed most of the 20 million people displaced by the strength in the region.
“While the increase in the number of people approaching the US border has drawn a lot of attention, we must not forget that the majority of forcibly displaced people remain in Latin America,” Kelly Clements stressed. “Our attention must not focus solely on the countries of destination of refugees and migrants, but we must also consider the countries from which they come and through which they transit. The challenges posed by the complex population movements that are taking place in the Americas must be addressed from a comprehensive and collaborative perspective at the regional level”.
Clements’ visit to the region began in Brazil: at the Sao Paulo international airport, he met with Afghan refugees and also visited one of the eleven shelters for refugee families from Afghanistan that were set up by the city authorities. In Roraima, a state in northern Brazil, she met with refugees and migrants who were crossing the border with Venezuela in search of assistance and protection. He also witnessed the humanitarian and integration response of Operation Reception in Brazil, a country that has hosted 623,000 recognized refugees, asylum seekers and others in need of international protection (including 459,000 people from Venezuela).
During her visit, Kelly Clements also met with partners from the private sector, government counterparts and other partners. “The leadership shown by Brazil in the reception, inclusion and integration of refugees and migrants from Venezuela and other countries has been exceptional,” she added. “UNHCR is proud to work closely with its partners, addressing the main needs of people in situations of human mobility, as well as offering solutions that allow them to contribute to the development of the communities that have hosted them.”
In Panama, Clements was in the Darien region; Since the beginning of the year, more than 150,000 people have arrived there, putting their lives at risk by crossing the dense jungle in search of protection, security and a better life. In the Darién, Kelly Clements visited an indigenous community that has hosted refugees from Colombia. In Panama City, she met with forcibly displaced people of different nationalities who are using their talents and skills to rebuild their lives. “Panama faces an unprecedented challenge regarding the response and protection of people in a situation of human mobility,” she commented. “For people who have settled in the country, integration through inclusion is key. With regard to people in situations of human mobility, UNHCR and its partners are supporting the Government of Panama to provide humanitarian assistance to those who are in a serious situation of vulnerability.
“It is vital to continue supporting initiatives in Latin America that offer stability and solutions, such as expanding legal channels,” he said. “If this is of paramount importance, we must not forget to address, at the root, the causes behind forced displacement. This translates not only into cooperation to prevent and resolve conflicts, but also into urgent actions to face the impact of climate change, as well as improve governance, equality and respect for human rights.”
For more information, please contact:
- In Brazil, Miguel Pachioni, [email protected]+55 11 988 75 3256
- In Panama, Viola Eleonora Bruttomesso, [email protected]+507 6646 3469
- In Panama, William Spindler, [email protected], +507 6382 7815
- In Geneva, Olga Sarrado, [email protected]+41 797 402 307
2023-05-17 16:04:59
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