The United Nations believes that mass exodus from Venezuela is now threatening stability of neighbouring States. The exodus from country, which is suffering from a severe economic crisis, is growing into a nationwide refugee crisis, as already existed in Mediterranean, declared organisation for Migration in Geneva. The second major UN refugee organisation, UNHCR, called on Latin American countries to continue to provide refuge for people from Venezuela. Since 2015, 1.6 million people have already left country.
Ecuador and Peru have already tightened ir border controls to limit number of Venezuelan refugees. In Brazil, an angry mob has driven hundreds of refugees across border back to Venezuela.
With hundreds of thousands of refugees from Venezuela who now live in Colombia, President of country, Iván Duque, has called for a change of government in neighbouring country. "As long as dictatorship does not end, migration will not stop," said head of state in an interview with British BBC. "We need to isolate regime and demand free elections so that people will revive hope and return to Venezuela in coming years."
Venezuela suffers from horrendous inflation and political instability. The decline in oil prices has led to a slump in government revenue. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), country's economy shrank by 12 percent 2017. For this year, IMF predicts inflation of one million percent in Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro recently announced extensive reforms. The opposition accuses him of building a dictatorship, mismanagement and corruption. Maduro sees his country as victim of a US-instigated economic war.
Date Of Update: 25 August 2018, 12:00
