A commission of the National Council of Justice (CNJ) was sent to Roraima to study the situation of the refugees that cross the borders of Venezuela with Brazil every day, seeking for new opportunities.

 

The objective of the special commission was to do a report that would help the Childhood and Youth National Forum to set new goals and find solutions that also included the immigrants who are in Brazilian territory. The members were received at the army base by Colonel Cinelli, who gave a general presentation on Operation Welcome and the activities of the Armed Forces and other organizations that work in partnership to face the serious humanitarian crisis that is taking place in the northern part of the country. After this, the group left for the screening station to learn more about the documentation and internalization process.

Also discussed was the growing number of Haitians that had migrated to Roraima over the last few years – just last year, around 13 thousand immigrants from the Caribbean country came to Brazil through the British Guiana border. The members of the commission believed that in spite of the main focus being on children and youths, contact with the situation of the immigrants and refugees is important.

Still accompanied by Colonel Cinelli, the commission went through the screening station and other installations of Operation Welcome, also visiting the temporarily set up hospital. At the screening station, about 1,900 cases per day were being dealt with.

After this, the group went on to Pacaraima to get to know the indigenous shelter Janokoida, which is managed by the Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation.

Livia Peres, Federal Judge assisting the NCJ, sees the need for creating good strategies to combat inequality and the development of the immigrants.

“There is a specific demand in the Childhood and Youth National Forum come up with a solution to the problem being discussed. Thus the need for some members of the Forum to visit Boa Vista and Pacaraima so that we may have some idea of the situations and the problems that are being faced by the Venezuelans.”

Luciano Frota, councilor of the Commission, says he was impressed by the organization and the dedication of Operation Welcome through the Armed Forces and the rest of their partners that are active in the region. “Humanity is one: it is not the borders and the limits between countries that can define where people must or should or should not live,” he concludes.

The International Fraternidade Humanitária FIHF works synergistically with Operation Welcome and other humanitarian organizations that are active in receiving and supporting the immigrants and refugees in the northern region of the country.

Find out more about the work carried out in the Roraima Mission