According to the Dutch Red Cross, there is an urgent need for a humanitarian solution for the Venezuelans who have fled to Aruba and CuraƧao. Thousands of people have fled Venezuela and now live on the islands, having to find their own food, shelter, or medicine. People live in constant fear; exploitation and human trafficking are major risks, said the Dutch Red Cross.
The situation of Venezuelan refugees in the Dutch Antilles is dire: according to a recent report from Refugees International, it is one of the worst in the region. A delegation from the aid organization visited the island of CuraƧao earlier this year. They concluded that CuraƧao provides no protection whatsoever for the growing number of Venezuelan refugees, as previously reported by the Catholic Weekly.
Since the start of unrest in Venezuela, approximately 56,000 people have made their way to the so-called ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and CuraƧao), the closest being less than 20 miles off the Venezuelan coast. According to the Red Cross, most fled to CuraƧao (25,000). The official number is unknown because many hide out of fear of being arrested.
The Red Cross also stated that Venezuelan refugees are often alone. This increases the risk of abuse, human trafficking, and forced prostitution. In recent months, several other aid organizations have expressed concern over the dire situation in the Dutch Antilles, including the local Caritas, which provides humanitarian aid on behalf of the church.
According to Caritas, the biggest problem is the absence of an official migration policy. This applies especially to Venezuelans without legal documents. Once arrested, they are detained in so-called ārefugee barracksā.
There is no right to asylum on the islands. Most people do not have the opportunity to request international protection. The reason is that CuraƧao has never signed the Geneva Refugee Convention and does not recognize refugee status.
All Venezuelans who are eventually arrested must buy their own ticket back. If they cannot afford it, they remain in prison until relatives or friends can provide the money. If that does not happen, the government and consulate are requested to help, a process that takes months.
The flow of refugees poses a huge challenge for the ABC islands, especially for CuraƧao and its 160,000 inhabitants. The crisis in Venezuela has taken a heavy toll on the economy. The closure of the oil refinery in CuraƧao, caused by the situation in Venezuela, was a severe blow to the island and caused an increase in unemployment. Currently, 26 percent of people are unemployed and youth unemployment is around 40 percent. Experts say it is clear that CuraƧao cannot cope with the influx of refugees alone.