South American Countries to Discuss Venezuela's Migration Issues on April 8-9 - Quito

MEXICO CITY (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th April, 2019) The third meeting on ensuring the mobility of Venezuelan migrants in South America will be held in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito on Monday and Tuesday, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry has said, adding that around 200 representatives from 14 regional countries will participate in the forum.

According to the ministry's communique, published on Thursday, delegates from 22 other states would attend the meeting as observers. Moreover, various international organizations, including UN agencies, will participate in the event.

Ecuador's Vice Minister of Human Mobility Santiago Chavez has said a report on the situation involving Venezuelan migrants and asylum seekers will be presented at the meeting.

Moreover, the participants would discuss the issue of documents that Venezuelan migrants should use to enter Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.

The Venezuelan migration crisis has been underway for months against the backdrop of an acute economic crisis and political turmoil.

The regional countries met for the previous time to discuss policies regarding Venezuelan migrants in September and November.

According to the UN Migration Agency IOM, as of last February, around 3.4 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela live abroad, including 2.7 million people residing in other Latin American and Caribbean countries.