Context

The Humanitarian crises plaguing Venezuela have led to an unprecedented number of refugees and migrants entering neighboring Brazil. In the past two years, tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil seeking work, shelter and protection. More than 8,000 people have sought refugee status in the first five months of 2017, at a rate of approximately 100 new cases per day.

The northern state of Roraima has received the bulk of the arrivals with an estimated 30,000 Venezuelans having settled into the sparsely populated state, straining the already weak local health and social service systems. The border town of Pacaraima, where refugees and migrants first enter Brazil, and the state capital of Boa Vista have been the most affected. There, hundreds of Venezuelans are living in the streets, abandoned buildings and temporary shelters. These new arrivals have urgent needs including food, shelter, jobs and legal assistance. Indigenous Venezuelans are particularly vulnerable.

PADF's Reponse

The Pan American Development Foundation is leading an international response to the growing refugee and migrant crisis in Brazil. PADF has identified Boa Vista, the state capital of Roraima, as a priority area for intervention as one of the areas most impacted by the refugee and migrant crisis. The city of approximately 250,000 is struggling to keep up with the needs of thousands of refugees and migrants and has only one shelter. That shelter - officially called the Immigrant Reference Shelter - is a re-purposed municipal sports facility managed by volunteers from a local religious organization called Fraternidade. There, volunteers provide three meals per day, hygiene products, medical services, job placement and limited legal assistance. As such, the shelter has come to serve as a focal point for assisting Venezuelan refugees and migrants in northern Brazil.

Improving conditions at this shelter and strengthening Fraternidade's capacity to serve Venezuelans throughout Roraima are vital first steps in helping refugees and migrants in the area. The shelter currently houses approximately 280 Venezuelans, but it is ill-suited for long-term stays and the provision of services to refugees and migrants. Inadequate restrooms and plumbing, for example, have led to an alarming sanitary and health situation. There are no areas for privacy, medical attention, or on-site administrative work, and many refugees and migrants sleep on the concrete floor. The shelter lacks adequate transport to shuttle refugees and migrants elsewhere or aid them in traveling to complete actions for attaining refugee status.

How You Can Help

PADF is soliciting support from government institutions, foundations, corporations, philanthropists and individual donors to contribute to the relief effort. PADF aims to raise $100,000 to launch a first round of assistance, which will focus on improving physical conditions at the refugee/migrant center in Boa Vista and expanding its work to provide more services to more of those in need With food, hygiene items, and other supplies being donated locally, PADF aims to achieve the following results:

-Improve sanitation services at the shelter

-Establish a clinic to attend to refugees and migrants

-Increase the volunteer staff and services provided by Fraternidade

-Improve transportation options for shelter volunteers, refugees, and migrants

-Upgrade office space at the Immigrant Reference Center

-Provide basic needs of refugees and migrants not met by current efforts.

We request your support for this growing humanitarian crisis and solidarity with some of the least fortunate people in the hemisphere.