Lutheran World Relief Responds to Venezuelan Refugees in Peru

BALTIMORE, Aug. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lutheran World Relief has launched an emergency response to assist families arriving in Peru who are fleeing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Venezuela.

With no end to the crisis in sight, Venezuelans are leaving their country in record numbers. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1.5 million Venezuelans have migrated over the past two years. This level of movement is on par with refugee levels of Syrians fleeing war to neighboring countries and Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh.

Although not a border country with Venezuela, Peru is also seeing a rapidly increasing number of refugees, with approximately 1,000 arriving each day.

Lutheran World Relief is supporting a project with a local partner, Encuentros, which operates a reception center in Lima that provides temporary housing, food and legal assistance to 400-600 Venezuelan refugees per month. Our assessment has shown that the majority of Venezuelan refugees arriving in Peru seek to establish roots in Lima, where many have diaspora connections. We have found a major gap in the reception services available to new arrivals, as they navigate the process of trying to find temporary housing, apply for work and get settled in a new country.

This Lutheran World Relief project seeks to establish a crucial support network for Venezuelans arriving in Lima. We will work closely with Encuentros to provide the following services:

• Support four reception centers capable of offering temporary housing and meals to Venezuelan refugees
• Create an online communications platform to provide legal counseling and guidance about residency and work permits, labor laws, etc.
• Provide psychosocial support services for children, women and youth
• Engage in advocacy activities for the rights of Venezuelans in Peru, promoting integration within host communities.

How to Help:

Donate By Phone: (800) 597.5972
Donate By Mail: Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061
Donate Online: donate.lwr.org/worldofgood

About Lutheran World Relief: LWR is an international NGO with nearly 75 years of demonstrated expertise that works in partnership with local communities to build their capabilities and collaborate on long-term solutions to reduce extreme poverty. In times of emergency, LWR is also a trusted partner to distribute aid and ensure people are prepared to withstand the next unexpected challenge. For more information, visit lwr.org.

Media Contact
John Rivera, Lutheran World Relief
jrivera@lwr.org, 443-604-2918

SOURCE Lutheran World Relief