Voice of America
21 Jun 2020, 14:35 GMT+10
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says the more than 3.5 million Venezuelans who have left the country in the past five years are officially considered refugees.
The UNHCR announcement that coincided with World Refugee Day on Saturday, said the Venezuelans were being added to the total number of refugees worldwide.
"Well, this decision comes after a very wide discussion in the organization on how to categorize the Venezuelans that have been displaced abroad," said Luis Fernando Godinho, UNHCR spokesperson in Brazil. Since last year, he said, the UNHCR has said that these people need international protection and thus should be recognized as refugees.
The agency's classification also includes thousands of people from Central America who crossed into Mexico last year, hoping for a better life in the United States after escaping credible life-threatening situations prompted by criminal organized groups in their own countries.
The refugee agency said fleeing violence in the country of origin was sufficient reason for a migrant to be classified as a refugee.
Meanwhile, UNHCR has asked host governments to give refugees and asylum seekers the same benefits as their own citizens.
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant shift to federal vaccine guidance, the U.S. government will no longer recommend routine COVID-19...
KATHMANDU, Nepal: Using xenon gas treatment and new technology is making climbing Mount Everest faster and better for the environment...
CAIRO, Egypt: Egypt has revealed three newly discovered tombs in the Dra Abu al-Naga necropolis in Luxor. These tombs, found by Egyptian...
TOKYO, Japan: As global inflation remains stubborn and growth prospects dim, central bankers from around the world gathered in Tokyo...
HONOLULU, Hawaii: A man from Oregon, Oliver Widger, has arrived in Hawaii after sailing across the ocean with his cat, Phoenix. He...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge GarcĂa Cuerva, used a major religious event over the weekend to criticize...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Boots Ireland has admitted to breaking pricing laws during a Black Friday sale in 2023, leading to an investigation...
FRANKFURT, Germany: Volvo Cars, based in Sweden, is cutting 3,000 jobs to reduce costs as the automobile industry struggles with trade...
YOKOSUKA, Japan: Facing mounting losses and global restructuring, Japan's Nissan Motor Corp. is turning to its unique e-Power hybrid...
DUBLIN, Ireland: An Irish High Court judge has allowed the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) to begin a class action-style lawsuit...
PARIS, France: French farmers brought traffic to a crawl around Paris and gathered outside the National Assembly on May 26, using their...
HANOI, Vietnam: Amid shifting global trade dynamics and growing concerns over U.S. tariffs, France and Vietnam have signed more than...