According to official Government data, Venezuela hosted close to 9,400 recognised refugees and 520 asylum seekers as of 31 December 2021. According to the profiling exercise that was conducted by UNHCR and the National Statistics Institute in December 2017, there were approximately 58,000 Colombian nationals who were in a refugee-like situation in the country. However, given the population outflows that Venezuela has seen since then, including Colombian nationals, it is estimated that the number of those in a refugee-like situation has dropped to 30,000.
In the area of international protection, UNHCR strengthened its institutional relations with the CONARE and the DDP through the signing of a Tripartite Agreement and the successful implementation of their joint workplans. UNHCR supported CONARE’s capacities to enhance protection delivery at community level, assisted in the organisation of 15 registration and documentation outreach brigades in remote areas, during which 312 asylum seekers were registered and documented.
CONARE’s refugee registration and case management system (SIGESREF) was rolled out nationwide in mid-2021, resulting in the issuance of individual temporary IDs free of cost to asylum seekers with a QR feature to ensure recognition by all State authorities and access to rights.
With the DDP, UNHCR supported the rehabilitation of 11 delegated offices nationwide and the establishment of the Ombudsperson’s Special Office for Migrants, Refugees and Human Trafficking survivors.
To promote refugee access to RSD and rights, UNHCR signed an LoU with the Caracas Bar Association. An LoU with IOM was also signed to address administrative detention of migrants and human trafficking, and to better coordinate durable solutions for people of concern.