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15 Braz. J. Int'l L. 18 (2018)
Crisis Venezuela: The Brazilian Response to the Massive Flow of Venezuelans in Roraima

handle is hein.journals/brazintl15 and id is 356 raw text is: Crisis in Venezuela: The Brazilian response to the massive flow of Venezuelans in Roraima Jacqueline Salmen Raffoul* On a daily basis, thousands of Venezuelans are forced to leave their country as a result of the political and economic crisis. The lack of basic supplies, such as medicine and food, the lack of freedom, due to an autho- ritarian government, and the soaring crime rates led to a massive movement toward neighboring countries, like Brazil and Colombia. The inflation rate1 of 13,860%, in April of 2018, can easily demonstrate the unprecedented economic crisis of Venezuela. In 2017, while the mon- thly minimum wage was approximately 200,000 Bolivares, the estimative of the price of basic groceries was around 1,000,000 Bolivares2. Hence, it beca- me impossible for most people to provide for themselves and their families. Besides, the International Community demonstrates continuous con- cerns regarding the local respect for human rights. In May 2018, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights considered that there was no political or social condition to carry on the elections in Venezuela. Thus, the United Nations refused to send an international observer to the elections. Due to the lack of political, social and economic condition, there is a massive flow of Venezuelans in the State of Roraima due to the shared bor- der with Brazil. Forced by the circumstances, leaving their country seems to be a matter of survival. Although Brazil has a positive open door policy, the issues faced by Venezuelans put it in check. In May of 2018, I visited Boa Vista in order to interview Venezuelan refugees, local people, Government authorities and representatives of in- ternational organizations. The results of my research are reported in this chronicle as an attempt to share the Brazilian response to the massive flow of Venezuelans there. 1. THE INCREASING REFUGEE STATUS REQUESTS FROM VENEZUELANS IN RORAIMA Considering the situation, expressive amounts of Venezuelans seek the refugee status in other countries. According to the 1951 Convention, a re- fugee is a person who was forced to move to another country due to well- -founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. In addition, persecution could also be other human rights violations related to the men- tioned reasons'. 1 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. Inflation rate, average consumer prices. Available at < http://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PCPIPCH@WEO/WEOW- ORLD/VEN >. Accessed on 21 June 2018. 2 CENDAS-FVM, Sary Levy, professor at the Central University of Venezuela. Bolivares is the current Venezuelan currency. 3 UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY: Handbook on Procedures and Crite-

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