In its most recent report on the characterization of migration in Venezuela and the return population, the Sures organization concludes, among other points, that the atypical Venezuelan migration is fundamentally for economic reasons, this being a direct consequence of unilateral coercive measures imposed by the Government of the United States and its allies against the Bolivarian Republic.
The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe in a general way the profiles of migrants from the Bolivarian state of Miranda -in the center of the country-, their family situations, emigration and return conditions in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To do this, a survey was conducted between July 15 and 31, 2020. A sample of 266 people infected or in the process of being diagnosed with COVID-19 was collected, from a universe of 1,248 people who were in health care centers for these reasons.
The sample included 22 sanitary hotels of the 59 that were active to date.
Sures emphasizes that although the results should not be interpreted or projected to the entire return population of the Miranda state, or Venezuela, “the strength of this study is that it allows to know, in an impartial, weighted and direct way, some essential aspects of the returnees, their families, their economic and legal situation during their migratory experience.”
Conclusions
The results of the survey show that the main reason for Venezuelan emigration is the economic situation.
“A significant percentage of the return population indicates that they emigrated to improve living conditions that were deteriorated as a result of the economic blockade and the economic war against our country (access to medicines, public services, among others)”, the report highlights.
Only 8.6% of the return population declares that they emigrated for political reasons, while only 1.9% affirm that they have the status or request for asylum.
Paradoxically, economic conditions in host countries are, in turn, the main reason for returning to Venezuela.
69.5% of the population declares that they returned due to the economic situation generated by COVID-19, while 19.9% state that they returned fearing the risks to their lifes and health due to the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, 47% of those surveyed state that they have not received support from international organizations to return to their country; only 7.5% of the return population indicate that they received assistance from UNHCR.
The report is part of the Ida yuelta series, designed by Sures to show, with legal, scientific and statistical bases, everything related to human mobility and migration policies in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the rest of the countries of the American continent and the whole world.
Since the end of 2019, a small and ascending return flow of people who emigrated from Venezuela to the countries of the region in recent years begins to emerge. Venezuelan authorities estimate that to date more than 160,000 people have entered our country since March 2020.