translated from Spanish: Acnur by Venezuelan flow: “It’s one of the most important we’ve seen”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Acnur), Italy’s Fillippo Grandi, met with Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera this morning to address the migrant crisis for Venezuelans. After the meeting that lasted more than an hour, Fillippo Grandi stated that “I am not very optimistic, I believe that this flow of Venezuelans in the region, a very important flow, the most important that we have known in the Acnur, not only in this region , is one of the most important flows we have seen in the world in the past decades.” He also said, “It’s one of the most important flows we’ve seen in the world. I think it will continue if we don’t see a political solution.” I believe that this flow will continue if there is no political solution in Venezuela that allows these people to return to their country. In that time we will work with all the governments of the region, the Unnur, the IOM (International Organization for Migration), establishing a regional platform for cooperation,” added the High Commissioner.Chancellor Teodoro Ribera highlighted the joint concern that exists about the mass exodus of Venezuelans. “The Unnur knows no other crisis of this size on the continent. We have shared our joint concern about respect for human rights and the humanitarian work that needs to be done in these cases,” he stressed. In addition, Grandi spoke of chile’s great role in the Venezuelan migration crisis. “My visit is to thank the Chileans for welcoming the Venezuelans who have arrived here with such generosity,” he said. It should be noted that the Italian will be in our country until tomorrow and on his agenda he contemplates meetings with Venezuelan refugees, with United Nations agencies and academics.

Original source in Spanish