Migration has always existed and will always exist. It’s a constant phenomenon and a right for those who decide so. In the case of the Americas, there were important challenges in 2018 regarding migration flows: from Nicaraguans fleeing repression in their country and migrating to neighboring Costa Rica, the families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border, to the Central Americans who assembled in their Caravana Migrante to show the world that the challenges of displacement and the lack of opportunities in their country of origin is something that concerns all countries and not only the country of origin. However, the exodus of Venezuelans as a result of the economic, social, political and humanitarian crises in the country was the main migratory challenge in 2018, and it will continue to be so as new waves of displaced Venezuelans arrive to countries in the region

Check out the key milestones of 2018 regarding Venezuelan migration. What were the numbers? What were the policy responses that are worth highlighting? What were the key decisions made by the international community to address the Venezuelan migrant and refugee crisis in 2018?

January

A hyperinflation of asylum seekers in the making. The year starts with an increase of 20,500% in the number of asylum seeking applications. According to data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the asylum applications by Venezuelans went from 505 in 2012 to 103,955 at the end of 2017.

Consultores 21 produces their report accounting for Venezuelan migrants. According to their report, there are already 4 million Venezuelans in the diaspora.

February

The Argentinean migration agency, the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, reports that 363 Venezuelans enter the country each day. According to official records, from 2017 to early 2018, the number of permanent residency requests from Venezuelans in Argentina grew by 142%.

President Temer of Brazil declares a State of emergency in the northern State of Roraima due to the rapid increase in the arrival of Venezuelans . The measure declares a “social emergency” and allows the disbursement of funds to support the provision of services. It also allows the deployment of the military to manage the emergency. A field hospital is also installed, and UNHCR establishes shelters for the displaced Venezuelan population. Around 40,000 Venezuelans are reported to have arrived to Roraima, equivalent to 10% of the state’s population.

March

President Santos of Colombia approves a decree mandating the Registro Administrativo de Migrantes Venezolanos (RAMV) , which would allow the government to have more information on the number and profile of Venezuelan migrants in the country. The information collected would be used to support the formulation and design of an integral public policy for the humanitarian assistance of the displaced populations.

The Inter American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR) approves Resolution 2/2018 “Forced Migration of Venezuelans” . With this resolution, the IACHR provides recommendations on the most effective responses to ensure the human rights of forcibly displaced Venezuelans.

The UN Refugee Agency produces an “Orientation Note to address Venezuelan flows” , by which countries are given guidelines on how best to address key challenges, namely regularization, access to basic rights (medical services, education, family unity, freedom of circulation, shelter and to work), and respect for the right to non-refoulement (or no return to Venezuela, given social, economic, and political conditions).

April

May

The UN Agency for Migration announces an overall increase in the number of Venezuelans arriving to South American countries, among them, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Perú and Uruguay become the main destination countries. A report by the same agency documents the general profile of the Venezuelan migrant by then: the average age of Venezuelan migrants is 31 years old, on average 58% are men, 56% reported being single, and more than 75% have achieved some educational level.

June

Colombia concludes the RAMV on June 8. The registry documents the presence in Colombian territory of 819,034 Venezuelans, of which 376,572 are regular and 442,462 are under an irregular status.

July

Chile sees an increase in the arrival of Venezuelans. By July, there are more than 147,000 Venezuelans in the country. The highest number reported had been 177,000, the total number recorded for the whole of 2017.

As we wait for the final results of the RAMV, Colombia reports that around 870,000 Venezuelans have arrived to the country and have stayed there as regular migrants, in the process of regularizing their status and with irregular status. This represents a 58% increase in the numbers compared to 2017.

Brazil announces their “Interiorization” plan by which Venezuelan migrants and refugees would be moved from Roraima State (their first point of entry into the country) to other states in the Federation with more robust labor markets. This is with the purpose of ensuring a more effective social and labor inclusion for Venezuelans.

August

September

October

The Superintendence of Migration in Peru accepts requests by Venezuelans for the Permiso Temporal de Permanencia (PTP) until October 31 . Those who enter Peruvian territory after that date will have to consider alternative regularization options.

The number of Venezuelans crossing the border city of Tumbes (with Ecuador) reaches 6,700 on the Sunday preceding October 31. The highest number previously recorded was 5,190, when passport requirements were temporarily changed by Peru.

November

December

And these are some estimates of how we close the year in terms of Venezuelans expats:

As many countries of the region take emergency measures to address the massive flows of Venezuelans, and recur to the international community for more financial resources for health, food, shelter and other costs to stabilize the Venezuelan displaced population, we cannot lose the sense of urgency in terms of addressing the root causes of this migratory crisis, and its regional effects.

This cannot become the new normal for Venezuelans, and the international community.

As we close the year, let us not forget that these are human lives that are at stake, people who have forcibly been separated from their nation, their origins, their families and loved ones.