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The Americas

Refugees and migrants living in slum areas in Santiago de Chile are not prepared to face the cold and heavy winter rains, as they live in houses without heating. The cold winter arrives to the country, deepening the situation of vulnerability of Venezuelan refugees and migrants.
Refugees and migrants living in slum areas in Santiago de Chile are not prepared to face the cold and heavy winter rains, as they live in houses without heating. The cold winter arrives to the country, deepening the situation of vulnerability of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. © UNHCR/Cristian Campos  
Global report 2021 | Regional summary

The Americas

16 June 2022
UNHCR met with a group of Venezuelan refugee women in Bello Oriente, to recognize gender-based violence through theater and together generate prevention and care strategies in their territory.

The Americas region hosted 18.4 million people of concern to UNHCR at the end of 2021, 20% of the global total. UNHCR supported governments’ digitization of national asylum systems and provided technical support to ensure access to asylum as COVID-19 border restrictions were gradually lifted. UNHCR advocated for national COVID-19 vaccination programmes to include forcibly displaced and stateless people, and many did so. UNHCR worked with civil society to support access to temporary collective shelters and strengthened access to individual shelters with rental programmes.

  • Read more about The Americas

Latest updates

The Americas Funding Update - 2022
The Americas Funding Update - 2022
28 June 2022
Venezuela factsheet
June 2022
Americas factsheet
March 2022
Americas operational update
March 2022
Cities of Solidarity in the Americas [Spanish]
December 2021
Cities of Solidarity in the Americas [Portuguese]
December 2021
Americas operational update
February
Cities of Solidarity in the Americas
Americas operational update
January 2022

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Populations

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2022 planning figures

Source: UNHCR (COMPASS) - planning figures are subject to change during the course of the year.

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Source: UNHCR (COMPASS) - planning figures are subject to change during the course of the year.

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Source: UNHCR (COMPASS) - planning figures are subject to change during the course of the year.

Financials

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Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Assist: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of April 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

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Budget by outcome and enabling areas

Source: 2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of April 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

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Source: 2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of April 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Executive summary

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Executive summary

Situations

Venezuela Situation

2022 Population planning figures

  • Refugees and asylum-seekers in Latin American and Caribbean countries: 1 million
  • Venezuelans displaced abroad* in Latin American and Caribbean countries: 5 million
  • Others of concern in Venezuela: 7 million

*Various interconnected factors are causing Venezuelans to leave, but given the deteriorating political, socioeconomic and human rights conditions, it is clear that international protection considerations are applicable to the majority of Venezuelans. Venezuelans displaced abroad are included in the global forced displacement total.

2022 Situation overview

In 2021, population outflows from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continued towards Latin America and the Caribbean as movement restrictions were progressively lifted. Loss of livelihoods, evictions, and rising xenophobia compounded a challenging socioeconomic environment, triggering secondary movements of Venezuelans settled in host countries. A few spontaneous returns were observed in 2021.

The remaining border restrictions resulted in many Venezuelan refugees and migrants resorting to irregular movements in the region, which exposed them to additional risks of gender-based violence, exploitation, or physical risks. UNHCR enhanced its presence in isolated areas to monitor and prevent deportation or expulsions at the borders. In 2022, UNHCR aims to prioritize critical activities like assistance, identification and referral to services for persons at heightened risk. UNHCR will support the ongoing national efforts offering regular stay and documentation to Venezuelans. Enhanced advocacy with local and national authorities will be key to allow for progressive opening of social protection programmes for refugees.

The internal situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is expected to remain complex in 2022. With sufficient funds, UNHCR will sustain the support to prioritized communities as planned under the inter-agency humanitarian response.

UNHCR, with IOM, will foster the implementation of the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan across 17 countries. Also, UNHCR and IOM will bolster the governmental coordination of the Quito Process (an initiative of several Latin American countries that seeks to harmonize domestic policies in the receiving countries) through technical support.

See more information on Venezuela situation page.

El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras Situation

2022 Population planning figures

  • IDPs: 473,600
  • Refugees and asylum-seekers in Latin America and Caribbean countries*: 148,200
  • Others of concern: 208,342

*This projection does not include Mexico and US.

2022 Situation overview

In 2021, a growing number of families, unaccompanied children and individuals were forced to leave their homes in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, a trend that is expected to persist in 2022. Widespread violence, fragile institutions, impact of climate change and deep-rooted inequalities compounded by the pandemic-related socioeconomic downturn contributed to displacement across borders and inside Honduras and El Salvador. Along with Mexico, the countries in Central America are increasingly becoming host to those in search of protection, while remaining transit countries for people from the south of the continent and beyond. The reintegration of those who have returned remains critical to ensuring future opportunities and mitigating the risk for further displacement.

In 2022, UNHCR will further support national efforts to address the causes and consequences of forced displacement in the region. In alignment with Humanitarian Response Plans in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, UNHCR aims to implement multifaceted responses aligned with national plans designed under the Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection and Solutions (MIRPS).

See more information on El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras situation page.

Colombia Situation

2022 Population planning figures

  • IDPs: 8.5 million
  • Refugees and asylum-seekers in Latin American countries: 111,600

2022 Situation overview

Forced displacement and confinement persists in certain areas controlled or disputed by irregular armed groups, in line with pre-COVID-19 trends. In 2022, the challenging situation in these areas will continue to impact indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities who are already at heightened risk.

Protection needs remain pressing in areas affected by insecurity. UNHCR’s presence in field locations will remain crucial in 2022 to bolster coordinated efforts with local and national authorities in the monitoring and quick response to displacement and confinement. Empowering communities to identify risks, implementing protective measures and arranging actions with competent authorities will help IDPs and host communities in the search for long-term solutions for the displaced population. UNHCR will work with government institutions to advocate for measures addressing the structural risk factors that continue to cause internal displacement. Support to the implementation of the Victims Law will be maintained.

See more information on Colombia situation page.

Nicaragua situation

2022 Population planning figures

Refugees and asylum-seekers in Latin American countries: 167,100

2022 Situation overview

The prevailing political situation in Nicaragua has led to a protracted, low-intensity crisis prompting continuous population outflows, mainly to neighbouring Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama. Pandemic-related restrictions and the socioeconomic slowdown that hit the region exacerbated the vulnerability of many Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers in 2021.

In 2022, access to asylum, regular stay arrangements and documentation will be prioritized, along with the provision of shelter, cash assistance or social security in a comprehensive effort coordinated with authorities and other key actors in the framework of the Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection and Solutions (MIRPS).

Global Focus

Global Focus is UNHCR’s main operational reporting website for donors and other key partners. It provides an overview of the protection risks that refugees and other populations of concern to UNHCR face across the world, as well as regularly updated information about the organization’s programmes, operations, financial requirements, funding levels and donor contributions.

 
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