Brazil has sent thousands of Venezuelan migrants to its two most affluent southern states, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, to help alleviate the strain of the Venezuelan refugee crisis. The move is part of a national effort to help the country accommodate the influx of Venezuelans fleeing their country’s political and economic crisis.
The Brazilian government has provided transport for up to 8,000 Venezuelan migrants to the two states, where they will receive assistance from local authorities. The migrants will be provided with shelter, medical care, and access to education and job opportunities.
The two states have welcomed the migrants with open arms, with the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, José Ivo Sartori, saying that the influx of Venezuelans has been “a blessing” for the region.
The move is part of Brazil’s broader effort to help Venezuelans in need, which has seen the government open its borders to over 200,000 refugees since the beginning of the crisis. The country has also provided assistance to Venezuelans in other parts of the country, including the Amazon region.