Location: Bogota – Colombia
Language: Spanish
Duration: 00:04:36
Source: A24
Restrictions: A24 clients
Dateline: 27/04/2022
Storyline
Colombia will offer temporary protective status (TPS) to nearly one million undocumented Venezuelan migrants this week, enabling them to work in the country legally as well as access healthcare and other essential services.
Thousands of Venezuelans stood today in long lines to collect their ID cards and migratory permits at Palacio del Deporte Stadium in northern Bogota. Similar queues were seen in the cities of Cucuta, Cali and Medellin.
Venezuelan migrants appreciated the Colombian government’s gesture and said they can ensure now their access to main services.
The TPS will have a positive impact on the lives of Venezuelan refugees and migrants who wish to regulate their stay in Colombia and access basic services. The TPS will contribute to guarantee the rights of Venezuelans, ensure their access to essential services (e.g. health, education, housing, basic goods and services).
Political, humanitarian and socioeconomic turmoil have prompted some 5 million Venezuelans to leave their home country since 2014. Many have settled in neighboring Colombia.
Over 2 million Venezuelans applied for emergency visas in Colombia, but only half of the applicants succeeded so far.
Shotlist
– SOINDBITE SPANISH Elangis Vergel, Venezuelan migrant to receive temporary protection status
“Here (in Colombia) I do not exist… until today. Thank God I am now registered in the system. I can now access the health system. In fact, two years ago when I first got here I struggled to access hospitals, because I did not have insurance. Thank God now with the protection status I will be able to go to hospitals and receive the same treatment as Colombians.”
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Danny Hernandez, Venezuelan migrant
My fellow Venezuelans need to be educated about patiences… because one day they receive the status and they want the health insurance, bank accounts right away… and that takes time. We need to cooperate, because there are 1,6 million Venezuelans. This is not easy. In Venezuela getting an ID and passport is so hard… Here, receiving our documents in less than 60 days… we have to be patient.
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH GERMANO SANDOVAL
“When working we were told “no, I cannot pay you, I will call the cops instead”… we were afraid, we did not exist (in the system). Now we have access to equal rights. There are some things still missing, like drivers licenses for us who work in delivery… and getting motorcycle driving licenses is what we can afford, but we are not able to do so.”
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH JUSMIDA ORTEGA
“Of course… for working too, so we get paid fairly. Above all.”
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