Venezuelan migrants transferred to a humanitarian camp in Engativá were intimidated

According to the authorities, there are 285 people and they will have to comply with rules of coexistence or else they will be deported.

Amid protests and dozens of people who recorded them, a group of Venezuelans arrived at a humanitarian camp in the town of Engativá, in western Bogota. The foreigners were taken from the vicinity of the Transportation Terminal of the capital to a hostel. The siege scene was recorded by BLU Radio.

In the images a person who shouts with a megaphone to the newcomers is appraised while assuring that his behavior is not an act of xenophobia. “There is nothing that gives you well-being,” adds the person who takes the role of spokesperson for the community.

Afterwards, the same person with the loudspeaker says to the arrivals: “There is no security”, while dozens of neighbors come to record foreigners. Others even tried to spread fear among Venezuelans by telling them that there are mice and snakes in the area.

According to the administration, in the new humanitarian camp they will have to comply with rules of cohabitation or they could be deported to Venezuela.

The arrival of Venezuelans has sparked protests in the town of Engativá, where the ‘El Camino’ transit center will be located, which will house foreigners.

According to the District, the Venezuelan camp will be based on the protocols used in Paris to handle migration from Syria.

“The operation of this temporary camp is perfectly designed to serve them while they evacuate the place, leave the country or are located in Bogotá,” according to Cristina Vélez, Social Secretary.

The role of the District

The District delivered the first report of the transfer process of the Venezuelan communities that were in subnormal camps, until now 38 family units have been transferred.

An operation from 5:00 in the morning began to mobilize Venezuelan families and citizens who were located near the Transportation Terminal of Bogotá in El Salitre to the soccer field of the Luis María Fernández neighborhood, Engativá, where it is expected more than 280 people are located.

“Approximately 80 people are already inside, they have assigned tent, poster and they already know clearly what the rules of the game are .. This is a temporary measure until the month of January, the reason why we are sure of the temporality is not only because it is part of the agreement that people are signing, it is also because this is a property that will be intervened by the District in the future, “said Cristina Vélez, Bogotá’s social secretary.

Neighbors of the neighborhood

The inhabitants of the neighborhood have shown discontent because they never communicated the relocation measure.

“Health and insecurity, this community lives totally from commerce, we are going to be affected terribly, here we are located in the center of Bogotá, we demand the District to explain what is going to happen with this community once we have insecurity in our neighborhoods, “say some neighbors in the area.

On the other hand, some Venezuelan citizens have expressed their dissatisfaction by assuring that they took them to the camp, because they have not found elements such as water or mats. The District has said that the shortages will be provided in the next few hours.

Bogotá will seek international resources for Venezuelan population assistance

The city plans to incorporate an article in the budget proposal, which is currently being discussed by the District Council, to leave open the possibility of receiving international cooperation aid for the Venezuelan population.

“The District has not admitted international cooperation resources, we had an agreement with the IOM last semester and the last semester of 2017 for a characterization of this population, the District has not received this type of resources and in fact one of the articles of the Next year’s budget project includes the possibility of receiving these donations because we need them, and we require that a little more forceful support from the National Government to handle this situation, “explained Bogotá’s social secretary.

 With information www.bluradio.com.