Chile – Humanitarian crisis on the border – Urgent continental and comprehensive response is required (SJM Chile)
SJM Chile has issued a statement in which it warns about the Humanitarian Crisis that is unfolding at the northern border, especially in the towns of Colchane and Huara.
In the declaration, a number of statements are made that are applicable to the entire continent.
- The precarious conditions of forced migrants and the ceaseless migratory cycle produce situations of humanitarian crisis that need adequate responses, which must first come from the states themselves. We attest that the response at many of these borders, far from being humanitarian, is a repressive one, as we have seen recently in Guatemala, Ecuador or Colombia.
- The causal factors that produce these mass exoduses are unrelenting, and thus the flows are - and continue to be - ceaseless, no matter how many obstacles and restrictions are put in the way. In this case, the forced migrants on the northern border of Chile are mostly Venezuelans fleeing a complete multidimensional crisis in their country of origin. These are people in need of international protection.
- The COVID-19 pandemic greatly exacerbates migration conditions, provokes harsher attitudes of rejection, and is used as an argument to halt migration by any means necessary.
- The phenomenon of migration requires cooperation between states,the participation of multilateral organizations, collaboration between public powers and civil society, etc. It is a continental issue that requires a continental response.
- The response to migration must be based on a humanitarian and human rights approach, as opposed to the prevailing security approach.
- Together with SJM Chile, from the Jesuit Network with Migrants, we likewise affirm that our great challenge is to become truly welcoming societies, without fear of encounter, recognizing the contributions that migration brings with it from all points of view.
You can download the full Public Statement by SJM Chile here.
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