Dourados – Last Saturday (23/3) the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized the second voluntary relocation charter flight to Dourados, a city in central Brazil, for 130 Venezuelan migrants and asylum-seekers. The group of Venezuelans left the state of Roraima, which shares a border with Venezuela, as part of the Relocation Strategy under the Brazilian government’s Operação Acolhida (Operation Welcome), supported by UN agencies and partner civil society organizations. 

This was the second time that IOM chartered a flight to Dourados, to relocate migrants and asylum-seekers who benefit from a progamme that matches labour profiles with job opportunities in the industrial sector and is managed the Brazilian Armed Forces. The first group of 100 migrants travelled to Dourados last month (2/2). 

For the Venezuelan beneficiaries, the relocation represents an opportunity for integration and entry into the labour market, and the chance at a new life. They can contribute to the development of their new host communities by filling a workforce gap in Dourados; the arrival of new Venezuelan workers also stimulates the local economy. 

Sixto (31), a mechanical engineer, travelled to Dourados on the first charter flight in February and although he arrived less than two months ago, he already feels settled in his new work. Despite the cultural differences, he gets along with his new colleagues. For the first time in months, he is once again able to afford personal expenses such as meals and rent. He found it difficult at first to search for job opportunities in Roraima due to a high number of Venezuelans already residing there and the current economic crisis. But he is optimistic, as is his colleague Octavio, who said: “We have been treated only with kindness… [We] want to make sure that the Brazilians have a positive view of us.” 

The Relocation Strategy has been implemented since April 2018 to address work relocation, family reunion, temporary shelters, and the support of civil society members who provide accommodation across Brazil. By the end of March, over 5,400 people had already been relocated from Roraima to 17 Brazilian states through this strategy; IOM supports all aspects of the project. 

“The IOM charter and commercial flights are an alternative that speeds up the process as well as allows for more people to benefit in a flexible manner from the relocation strategy. It helps reduce the migratory pressure in the state of Roraima and facilitates the socio-economic integration of the Venezuelans in Brazil,” said IOM Brazil Chief of Mission Stéphane Rostiaux. 

As part of this comprehensive approach to integration, IOM also organized the last of a series of six nationwide workshops for private sector companies this month in Rio de Janeiro (27/3). The workshops were designed to help private sector companies implement policies focusing on the recruitment and employment of migrants; address their concerns regarding hiring, legal procedures, and required documentation; and to highlight the cultural and economic benefits of having a multinational team. 

Both the preparation of private sector actors to employ Venezuelans and the relocation process can benefit the host communities and transform the life of Venezuelans in Brazil, providing them with a new vision of a future where they once again feel at home. 

For more information please contact Vitoria Souza at IOM Brasilia, Tel: +55 61 96943850, Email: vsouza@iom.int