The region will accept expired documents from Venezuelans

Ecuadornews:

The delegates that signed the Quito agreement will meet again in the second week of November to verify compliance with the agreed points. Caracas did not send a representative. Delegates from the 12 countries that met in Quito to address the migration crisis in Venezuela signed a document.

There they committed to establish mechanisms to facilitate the mobility of refugees. After two days of debates, they issued a resolution with 18 points. The event was promoted by Ecuador and was attended by representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

Venezuela did not send a representative. Bolivia expressed its disagreement with some of the points discussed and withdrew without signing the minutes. The deputy minister of Human Mobility of Ecuador, Santiago Chávez, said that the Bolivian representatives worked on the document for two days, but indicated that “they could not accompany the declaration because of direct indications from their government. Apart from this we have told Bolivia that we will continue working with them.”

Among the points agreed upon is the establishment of a regional program, with the support of the United Nations System, for the timely exchange of information of Venezuelan migrants, in order to provide humanitarian aid and achieve orderly and safe migration.

The vulnerable population, such as children, women and the elderly, will also be given priority attention, as well as “access to public health and education services and opportunities in the labor market, as well as justice systems.”.

Another agreed point was that “with the national legislation of each country (they go) to receive the expired travel documents as identity documents of Venezuelan citizens for immigration purposes”. To this is added the importance of the technical and financial cooperation provided by the cooperating States and international organizations, in order to obtain financing to address the migratory crisis. Although the resolution is not binding, delegates will hold a follow-up meeting in the second week of November to verify compliance.

Ecuadorians living in Venezuela ask for help

At least 30 Ecuadorians living in Venezuela asked the National Government for help because they suffer different types of diseases and need access to medicines and urgent medical attention. The undersecretary of the migrant community, Ambassador Jorge Icaza Gustinez, said that this week a medical mission will be formed with personnel from the Ministry of Health who will travel to the different cities of Venezuela where the sick Ecuadorians are.

 Icaza clarified that they are studying how to send the medicines requested by the compatriots. “We will make a first evaluation to determine if the return of the patients is necessary and the way to do it”.

He also indicated that since the beginning of the crisis in Venezuela about 50 Ecuadorians have returned to the country. The official commented that the people who decided to return are finding it very difficult to bring their household goods due to the conditions in which they are in the brother country. That is why we are also looking for solutions to provide facilities to those in Venezuela, “the official stressed. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/acuerdo-declaracion-migracion-venezuela