Michelle Ramirez, 25, a Venezuelan migrant stranded on the border between Chile and Peru, is welcomed by her relatives at the Simón Bolívar International Airport after being repatriated to Venezuela on a humanitarian flight in Maquetía, Venezuela, May 7, 2023. being done. , Photo Credit: Reuters
Chile’s government said 115 Venezuelan migrants stranded on the Peruvian border were brought back to Venezuela on a humanitarian flight on Sunday.
Hundreds of migrants, mostly Venezuelans seeking to return home, were stranded at the country’s northern border after being denied entry to Peru. The incident caused diplomatic tension as Peru sent police and soldiers to the border to stop the migrants.
“It was difficult, I don’t wish this on anyone,” Carliana Bravo, 27, said after arriving in Venezuela with a baby in her arms.
“It was 12 days of sleeping in the desert, with cold, a lot of sun during the day and the children got burnt and sick.”
Stylist Yuri Gil, 38, said many people missed flights because they had children overseas.
“Mothers with foreign children didn’t get any help, they were left there,” Gill said. “Just because their children are Ecuadorian, Peruvian, they didn’t let them go, they didn’t let them fly. It was terrible.”
Chilean and Venezuelan officials were not immediately available for comment about the migrants not being allowed to board the flight.
In a statement released earlier on Sunday, Chile’s foreign ministry said the flight was the result of diplomatic efforts with the Venezuelan government and its “return to homeland” plan.
“Diplomatic efforts will continue with the goal of establishing future flights from different parts of Chile,” the statement said.
“Only through cooperation will we be able to tackle the regional migration crisis in the medium and long term,” the statement said.