Help 1,100 Venezuelans rebuild their life in Peru

Dear Friends,

We would like to share with you a great achievement. During the last three months, our team was able to obtain resident visas for 558 vulnerable Venezuelan migrants who are now living in Peru due to the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in their country. During the implementation of our regular activities in support of migrants and refugees, we identified a group of 558 people living with chronic health problems, such as Lupus or HIV. In order to have access to the continued healthcare they need, having a resident visa is a requirement. Our team worked really hard to advocate for them before local authorities and obtain express visas and the Peruvian identity card, called Carné de Extranjería that proves they are now regularly residing in the country.

Peru is still going through its second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and new daily cases and deaths are still very high. Having access to proper healthcare for people with pre-existing conditions is vital. We keep working to support Venezuelan migrants and refugees providing counseling, orientation and subsidies to cover the administrative costs for their migratory status regularization and the recognition of their graduate degrees by local authorities, so that they have the means to build a new life in Peru.

We are grateful for your support!

Warm regards,

Andrea Gandolfi 

Dear friend,

This month we are going to expand our current visa support program and start a subsidies scheme to help migrants and refugees have their undergraduate and graduate degrees formally recognized by Peruvian authorities. This will allow them to apply to qualified job opportunities and improve their livelihoods. In turn, through their qualified work and skills, they will benefit the local society of which they are now part.

Moreover, at AGTR we have been working to keep supporting Venezuelan migrants during the ongoing pandemic. As you know, although most restrictions have been lifted, the situation is far from being back to normal. The pandemic came when migrants and refugees had just left their country of origin and were trying to start over in Peru. Most of them lost their jobs, were unable to make a living during the quarantine and are still struggling to recover. They were not included in any of the economic relief funds implemented by the Peruvian government and have very limited access to healthcare.

During the past few months, we were able to provide over 300 Venezuelan migrants and refugees (and their families) with food baskets and essential goods. We are now almost ready to start a new round of deliveries, this time including sanitary material, such as face masks and hydroalcoholic gel, in the baskets.

Together, we can reach more and more vulnerable migrants and refugees who need our help to get through this rough times. Thank you for your support!