LIMA, May 9 (NNN-ANDINA) –The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that it will continue working with the governments of Chile and Venezuela, as well as with other countries in the region, in order to find joint solutions to the problem of irregular migration, such as humanitarian repatriation flights.
In a statement, the government agency said that, since the beginning of the migration crisis at the southern border, it engaged in a high-level dialogue with Chilean authorities and established a permanent working group.
Such dialogue gave priority to the realization of humanitarian flights to allow the voluntary return of Venezuelan nationals stranded at the border area to their home country, such as the one that took place in recent hours, with 115 people on board.
Likewise, it indicated that the Venezuelan consular authority is conducting the registration of its compatriots located in Tacna who wish to return voluntarily to Venezuela, in light of their documentary situation.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill with the Governments of Chile and Venezuela, as well as with other countries in the region, in order to find joint solutions to the problem of irregular migration, including the organization of repatriation flights for Venezuelan nationals wishing to voluntarily return to their home country,” the statement read.
The Foreign Affairs sector stated that this first humanitarian flight constitutes an important step in the efforts made to solve this problem, and a course of action that will be further coordinated with the countries involved, as evidenced at the meeting with deputy ministers of Bolivia, Chile , Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela held on May 3.
The Ministry also reported that, in response to the coordination with regional authorities, as well as offices of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tacna, the latter have implemented an orientation center for migrants in said city, so as to establish a regular, orderly, and safe migration.
“Likewise, these offices in Tacna have been implementing a plan, in coordination with regional authorities, so that irregular migrants occupying public spaces in said city are transferred to the shelters that have been set up to receive them,” the statement added. — NNN-ANDINA
