유엔난민기구 배움터: Q&A (2024년 봄호)

A group of Venezuelan refugee families walk along the highway that runs parallel to the border with Chile on December 3, 2021, in the southern region of Tacna, Peru. These people were intervened in a night raid in the desert by the Chilean security forces and returned to the border line, from where they will walk a few kilometers until they reach the Santa Rosa border post, in Peruvian territory. Then, they will return to the city of Tacna, about 35 kilometers to the north to regain strength and try to cross the border through the desert again. It is difficult to calculate how many Venezuelan people enter Chile irregularly from Peru, walking through the desert. The truth is that among those who try there are a large number of pregnant women, many young children, entire families. According to testimonies, once they manage to step on Chilean soil, many are victims of the Chilean security forces: verbal and physical violence, expressions of xenophobia, humiliating treatment. And after this, they are returned to the border line and expelled with threats. These people return frustrated, walking through the desert again, sometimes leaving their few belongings on the trail, without money, without water and without food.

UNHCR staff bring assistance to families of Venezuelan refugees along the highway that runs parallel to the border with Chile, on December 3, 2021, in the southern region of Tacna, Peru. These people were intervened in a night raid in the desert by the Chilean security forces and returned to the border line, from where they will walk a few kilometers until they reach the Santa Rosa border post, in Peruvian territory. Then, they will return to the city of Tacna, about 35 kilometers to the north, to regain strength and try to cross the border through the desert again. It is difficult to calculate how many Venezuelan people enter Chile irregularly from Peru, walking through the desert. The truth is that among those who try there are a large number of pregnant women, many young children, entire families. According to testimonies, once they manage to step on Chilean soil, many are victims of the Chilean security forces: verbal and physical violence, expressions of xenophobia, humiliating treatment. And after this, they are returned to the border line and expelled with threats. These people return frustrated, walking through the desert again, sometimes leaving their few belongings on the trail, without money, without water and without food.