The Venezuelan diaspora reached 6.8 million migrants and refugees, which makes it the largest in the world along with that of Ukraine and surpassing that of Syria.
This was announced this Tuesday, August 30, by David Smolansky, commissioner of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States for the Venezuelan migrant and refugee crisis.
“The tweet I never wanted to do came. I have completed consultations with the United Nations response platforms for Syria and Ukraine. Official: Venezuela is the largest migrant and refugee crisis in the world (6.8 million), tying Ukraine and surpassing Syria,” Smolansky said in his Twitter account. Twitter.
Venezuela, the largest diaspora despite not facing an armed conflict
According to information from the United Nations Refugee Agency (Acnur), the five countries with the most serious migration crises are Venezuela and Ukraine, with 6.8 million migrants each; Syria, with 6.6 million; Afghanistan, with 2.7 million, and South Sudan, with 2.3 million.
It is noteworthy that of these five nations, Venezuela, although it represents the largest diaspora, is the only one on the list that is not facing an armed conflict.
Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan and South Sudan
Ukraine is in the middle of a war after the Russian invasion at the end of February.
Syria has been involved in a civil war for more than 11 years that began in the context of the “Arab spring” and that has generated clashes between at least four factions: the government of Bashar al-Ásad; the opposition, in which jihadists, Kurdish forces and even the Islamic State are grouped.
Afghanistan has been occupied by US forces since 2001, in the face of the US fight against Al Qaeda for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center (the Twin Towers) and the Pentagon. The occupation continued until last year, when US troops withdrew and the Taliban took Kabul.
South Sudan is considered “the youngest country in the world” as it achieved independence from Sudan in 2011 after two decades of conflict. However, strong instability has remained since then, including a civil war starting in December 2013, following an attempted coup by Sudan People’s Liberation Army insurgents against President Salva Kiir.
Venezuela and the humanitarian crisis
Of the five most significant migration crises today, the Venezuelan is the only one that does not have its origin in an armed conflict, but in the political and economic situation that since 2013 has involved, among other aspects, political persecution, limitations on freedoms , human rights violations, food and medicine shortages, and hyperinflation.
The tweet I never wanted to do has arrived.
I have completed consultations with the United Nations response platforms for Syria and Ukraine.
Official:
Venezuela is the largest migrant and refugee crisis in the world (6.8 million), tied with Ukraine and surpassing Syria (6.6M). pic.twitter.com/ITcQVO5wEy
— David Smolansky (@dsmolansky) August 30, 2022