A humanitarian catastrophe has been unfolding on the South American continent for several years, largely unnoticed by the global community. Venezuela is gripped by a deep-seated political and economic crisis that is compelling many nationals to leave their homeland in search of a perspective.

The United Nations estimates that between 2016 and 2019 alone, around 5 million Venezuelans left their country due to hunger, poverty and increasing hardship. The majority of them settled in the neighbouring countries and therefore remained within the region. Colombia alone has taken in almost 1.8 million Venezuelan refugees over recent years. But other South American countries such as Peru, Ecuador and Chile have also become havens for Venezuelan refugees and together shoulder a substantial part of this mass exodus.

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The host countries in the region are not even remotely prepared to cope with a refugee disaster of this magnitude. They are already reaching the limits of their absorption capacity and are increasingly unable to maintain the generous ‘culture of welcome’ they practised towards Venezuelans seeking protection and refuge in the early years. The coronavirus crisis and associated economic crisis are further compounding this testing situation. Faced with rising poverty and growing competition for precarious state support and economic resources, there is a risk that social conflict may escalate, which might ultimately destabilise the whole region.

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is therefore working with political decision-makers and civil society actors in the principal host countries within the framework of the BMZ-funded ‘Tackling the root causes of displacement, reintegrating refugees’ Special Initiative. Cooperating with a wide network of partners, our country offices in Columbia, Peru and Chile are promoting exchange on measures for successful integration. In dialogue with local political, economic and administrative leaders as well as representatives of the refugee community, the KAS is therefore committed to effective management of the refugee crisis and a successful integration process in the region’s host countries. The KAS also cooperates with universities and educational institutions in the host countries to provide further training as a means of preparing Venezuelan refugees for a future return and successful reintegration in their home country.