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Demographics
Venezuelan Arrivals in Colombia

*Data source: ACAPS.org. Figures as of Dec. 2019


Venezuela is suffering a deep economic, social, and political crisis without precedent in Latin America. The country's economy shrank by half between 2013 and 2018, which has halted domestic production and eliminated jobs throughout. Hyperinflation reached approximately 1,000,000% in 2018 and led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and other basic supplies.

​The resultant humanitarian crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans to neighboring countries, generating challenges to local governments and communities in many Latin American countries. The subsequent refugee crisis has put tremendous pressure on governments and communities around Latin America, generating a need for civil society and the international community to support this process.

But most importantly, it has forced millions of Venezuelans to flee their homes in search of a better future. (Source: Walking for Freedom)

Migrant Status Statistics
  • 300,000
    Returning Colombians
  • 724,036
    Transitioning Refugees
  • 1,624,915
    Pendulum Refugees (45K daily)
  • 468,428
    Colombia Final Stop (w/regular migratory status)
  • 361,399
    Colombia Final Stop (w/irregular migratory status)
  • 105,766
    Crossed illegally/expired visa

*Data source: ACAPS.org

Venezuelan Migration Data
5.5 million
Venezuelans have fled their country (Nov 2020)
8.1 million
Venezuelans expected to have left by the end of 2021

17.5% of Venezuela's population have fled

*Data source: UNHCR.org

How does World's Highest Inflation Rate Translate?
Powdered Milk Comparison
$703.54
Venezuela
$7.24
USA

Fresh milk is nearly impossible to find or store in Venezuela right now, so many are turning to powdered milk instead. A kilogram goes for 7,000 bolivares ($703.54 USD), or nearly half of a minimum wage monthly paycheck, on the black market. Two pounds of powdered milk, which is just under one kilogram, goes for $7.24. This means for the price of one box of powdered milk in Venezuela, people in the U.S. can purchase 97.2 boxes.

Maize Flour Comparison
$301.50
Venezuela
$9.27
USA

Arepas, or stuffed, thick-tortilla like sandwiches, are a staple in Venezuela. They are made from maize flour, which can cost about 3,000 bolivares ($301.50 USD) for just one kilogram of the flour, CNN noted. The same-sized bag goes for about $9.27 on Amazon in the U.S. This means that for the price of one bag of flour in Venezuela, people in the U.S. can buy 32.5 bags of flour.

Pasta Comparison
$301.50
Venezuela
$2.50
USA

Pasta is an affordable staple in the U.S where two pounds (which is approximately one kilogram) is just $2.50. In Venezuela, a kilogram of pasta currently sells for 3,000 bolivares ($301.50 USD) on the black market, CNN reported. This means for the price of one box of pasta in Venezuela, people in the U.S. can buy 120.6 boxes.

Eggs Comparison
$150.76
Venezuela
$1.49
USA

When people talk about affordable sources of protein, eggs are often first on the list. Unfortunately in Venezuela, a dozen eggs can cost 1,500 bolivares ($150.76 USD) on the black market, the Los Angeles Times noted. In the U.S., the average price of 12 eggs is just $1.49. This means that for the price of one dozen eggs in Venezuela, people in the U.S. can buy 101 dozen eggs.

Watermelon Comparison
$40
Venezuela
$4.99
USA

While fresh produce is hard to find in Venezuela right now, when it is available it is expensive. Watermelon from a government-subsidized store can go for 400 bolivares ($40 USD). It likely costs much more than that on the black market. In the U.S., watermelons cost just $4.99 at a number of Sam's Clubs locations. This means for the price of one watermelon in Venezuela, you can purchase 8 watermelons in the U.S.

Coffee Comparison
$201
Venezuela
$19.88
USA

Every once in a while, a fancy coffee shop will sling a $16 cup of coffee, but for the most part, coffee tends to be affordable — unless you live in Venezuela. According to Forbes, a 1/2 kilogram bag of ground coffee goes for 2,000 bolivares ($201 USD) on the black market.

Local Refugee Heroes
"I had a saying, 'Help me to keep helping'. And people did. But the government heard about my volunteer work. I was kidnapped, shot six times, and left on the side of the road. I lay there for over ten hours. In the morning, someone who had heard the shots the night before came and found me. I pulled through, but I lost my leg. My employer told the press that I had died, then paid for me to stay hidden in an apartment for over two years. Eventually the government realized I was alive and came looking for me."

January 9, 2023

When I was in high school, I was fascinated by geography, and it struck me that there was a highway that I could hop on in my car and drive all the way down into South America. As an imaginative young girl growing up on the Texas-Mexico border, the idea of a road that could take me from my sleepy border town, Laredo, Texas, to the edge of the world in South America, left me awe struck. In high school I learned that this highway is called the Pan-American Highway.

Volunteers
Liz V Elizabeth Vicente
Community Program Coordinator, Colombia
Jhennyfer Bolivar Abreu
Community Liaison
Erin
Community Liaison, Colombia
Amy
Community Liaison, Colombia
Leslie
Photographer & Community Liaison, Colombia
Chelin Miller
Photographer & Community Liaison
Andrea
Community Liaison, Colombia
David
Photographer & Community Liaison, Colombia
80100 D39 F9 B0 4 A58 8 EA4 A06 ABC2 D8 FCA Amy Talley
Community Liaison - Colombia
048 C4490 27 F7 41 B5 A7 D0 E375 A1631 F7 F 1 201 a Sarah Zegarra
Community Liaison
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