Coronavirus: Venezuelan refugees leave Colombia to return to the country

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Hundreds of Venezuelans who had emigrated to Colombia due to the economic collapse of their country returned there, Saturday and Sunday, prompted by the health emergency linked to the coronavirus, according to Colombian migration authorities.

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This Saturday, April 4, 600 people left by the international Simon-Bolivar bridge in Cucuta (northeast), and 160 others took the road from Bogota on April 5, specifies the agency Migracion Colombia. The largest group, made up of 167 women and 35 children, traveled to Cucuta from the nearby town of Bucaramanga with the help of the authorities.

Asparagus, disinfected

Before crossing the Simon-Bolivar bridge, Venezuelans wearing masks were sprayed with disinfectant by Colombian police, who also took their temperature to detect possible symptoms of the disease. Colombia has activated a humanitarian corridor so that Venezuelans can cross their country, faced with the closing of borders and general confinement imposed by the government in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

Immigration officials checked on Sunday that foreigners who have left Bogota are " voluntarily ", a source in Migracion Colombia told AFP. Colombia welcomed 1.8 million Venezuelans who fled the economic and social crisis hitting the former oil power.

Need for international help

Some 4.9 million Venezuelan migrants around the world are in need of international assistance in the face of the devastating economic impact of the pandemic, according to the United Nations. In Colombia, more than 1,400 cases and 35 deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded since March 6.

( with AFP )

Read also: In Venezuela, Juan Guaido calls on the IMF to fight against the coronavirus

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• Venezuela
• Colombia
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine