Brazil – Most Venezuelans interviewed (over two thirds) crossing Brazil’s northern border are between the prime working ages of 25 and 40 years old and nearly two thirds are men. More than half say they are hoping to travel even further south – towards the Argentina (mainly) and Chile.  About two-thirds report economic or labour reasons at home motivated them to leave; about one fifth say their chief motivator was lack of food and medical services.

These are some the findings IOM, the UN Migration Agency, released its first results of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) today (27/04), providing information on Venezuelan flows in the State of Roraima, Brazil.

The first DTM round was implemented in close coordination with the Brazilian Government through its Ministry of Human Rights, to gather, analyse and produce evidence-based data to provide a better understanding of the Venezuelan flows in Roraima.

The DTM results include information on demographics, mobility, the labour situation, access to services and protection. The IOM team collected the information between 25 January and 8 March 2018 through more than 3,500 interviews in two municipalities: Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima, and Pacaraima, on the border with Venezuela.

The data collected shows that most of the Venezuelans surveyed (71%) are between 25 and 49 years old, 40 per cent migrated together with their family and 40 per cent migrated alone. Regarding gender, the DTM data shows that 58 per cent of the migrants are men and 41 per cent are women. Seventty-five per cent come from the States of Anzoategui, Monagas and Bolívar in Venezuela and 52 per cent are willing to go to other countries (mainly Argentina and Chile), while 48 per cent wish to stay in Brazil (mainly in the States of Amazonas and Roraima).

According to the information gathered, 67 per cent of the Venezuelans interviewed left their country because of economic or labour reasons and 22 per cent due to the limitations to access food and medical services.

The DTM results indicate that 57 per cent of the Venezuelans surveyed are unemployed in Brazil. Among those employed, 82 per cent are working in the informal market and 76 per cent send remittances to their families in Venezuela.

Most of the Venezuelans interviewed reported having access to basic services, except education. Among those who expressed difficulties accessing education, the main reason reported was the lack of documentation.

The DTM also shows that 28 per cent of the Venezuelans interviewed have suffered either verbal, physical, or sexual violence in Brazil.

“These DTM results provide decision-makers with reliable data on the Venezuelan nationals and their evolving needs in the State of Roraima,” explained IOM Brazil Chief of Mission Stéphane Rostiaux. “The DTM is also a key instrument for evidence-based migration policymaking on Venezuelan migrant flows in Brazil,” Rostiaux added. “With regular implementation of the DTM, we will be able to have accurate and timely information”.

The DTM data also shows that of those Venezuelans interviewed, 65 per cent are interested in taking part in the Relocation Strategy currently implemented by the Brazilian Government. They expressed their interest in moving to other cities in Brazil, especially in the State of Amazonas. As part of the Relocation Strategy, IOM recently supported the relocation of 265 Venezuelans from Roraima to Sao Paulo and Cuiaba in coordination with other UN Agencies. A second relocation will take place in the coming weeks.

The DTM report can be downloaded here.

For more information please contact Fabiana Paranhos at IOM Brazil, Tel: +55 61 3038 9014, Email: fparanhos@iom.int