The International Organization for Migration (IOM) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been providing support for the hundreds of Venezuelans migrants camped out at several indigenous communities in Region One. However, a decision has been made to now close the border to all migrants.
This disclosure was made by Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley on Thursday.
He had previously told Stabroek News that the region does not have the financial resources at this stage to provide aid to influx of Venezuelans that arrived in the community back in January.
However, since then, IMO, through USAID, has been providing food hampers and other necessities to the migrants who remain in Indigenous communities such as White Water, Smith Creek, Yarakita, Imbotero, and Canal Bank.
In January, hundreds of Venezuelans arrived in Guyana claiming that they were under constant attack by the Syndicato gang and this triggered their decision to leave Venezuela.
Ashley communicated that the majority of the migrant population is camped out in those areas and are being assisted by IOM and the Ministry of Health, which is conducting screening and COVID-19 testing.
He noted that there is currently a minor COVID-19 outbreak at the centers but the MoH is doing its best to ensure that the situation does not escalate.
Meanwhile, he noted that over the past week he has not received any reports of more migrants entering Guyana by security at the border. He had indicated that since the land borders were closed it has been decided that migrants from Venezuela will no longer be accepted.
“We have taken a stance on community level that the border is closed and therefore our persons at the border stations would’ve been alerted so as not to allow new influx of persons in the country,” he said in a previous interview with Stabroek News.
He noted that border security has since been increased as members of the Joint Services have been deployed to monitor the various ports of entry in the region.
