Almost three million people have fled Venezuela over the past three years to escape poverty, food insecurity and violence, according to the latest United Nations statistics.

The Latin American country’s economy has collapsed and inflation is predicted by the International Monetary Fund to reach one million percent before the end of this year.

“Every day is a struggle not just for us but for the children. I hope that my children will be allowed to study and create a future for themselves off the street. At the moment, they don’t even have clothes to wear,” said Olivia, who is homeless with four children.

Colombia hosts the largest number of Venezuelan migrants – more than one million have arrived since 2015 – in a crisis likened in scale to that of the war in Syria by the UN human rights body.

“On the third day, the stress of having left our home in Venezuela caused me to have a heart attack,” said Stefanie, 55, who is travelling with her 10-year-old grandson.

Estimates suggest more than 350,000 children have made the dangerous crossing to Colombia, facing grave risks, such as trafficking and recruitment by armed groups and organised criminal gangs.

Save the Children Country Director Maria Martinez said: “Mothers do not have food to feed their children … or a place to call home. Mothers are giving birth on the streets.”

“The scale and complexity of this crisis is unprecedented and we currently have a huge funding gap,” Martinez said.

Names changed to protect the identity

Pictures provided by Save the Children