Chile - IOM Chile, in support of 12 local governments in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile, is completing a first exploratory study of Quilicura, a municipality in the northern part of the capital, which has become a magnet for international migrants. Other high density migrant areas in the city include the municipalities of Independencia, Recoleta and Central Station.

The exploratory study is the first of its kind and aims to profile migrants, refugees and asylum seekers living in the metropolitan area, to better understand their situation and support the development of migration policies that meet their needs and inform them about their rights.

The study was based on a survey of 1,021 migrants, which showed that 68 per cent of them came from Haiti, 10 per cent from Peru, 7.5 per cent from Colombia, 2.2 per cent from Ecuador and the remaining 12.3 per cent from Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Palestine and China.

The study was coordinated closely with the local authorities, including Quilicura’s Mayor Juan Carrasco and the Municipal Office of Migrants and Refugees, which was created in 2010 to assist Haitian migrants who arrived in the city after the devastating Haiti earthquake.

IOM also worked closely with the Aliens and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior; Regional Secretary of Chile (SEREMI by its Spanish acronym); consular representations, UNHCR; and the Universities of Chile, Central, Santiago, Catolica de Chile, as well as the Center for Socio-Cultural Studies (CESC).

IOM Chile Chief of Mission Norberto Girón emphasized the multi-faceted nature of the study. “The results of the consultation are important to assess the human rights situation of the migrants, as well as their social inclusion, vulnerability, multiculturalism, in addition to their access to health, education, housing and other services.”

There are currently an estimated 441,529 migrants in Chile, of whom 64 per cent are living in the capital, Santiago.

For more information please contact Marina Esponda at IOM Chile, Tel: +56 2 29 633710, Email: mesponda@iom.int