The chemistry between Jeimmy and Tomás fills the air of their small house in Colombia. They are not locals, they are from Venezuela, but like the other 6 million fellow Venezuelans, they had no other option but to flee.
Colombia hosts more than 1.8 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees and has taken the historical decision of granting them 10-year protection through the Temporary Protection Status.
The registration process has shown significant progress and provides crucial protection. However, access to essential services remains challenging as many are unaware of their rights as refugees or migrants.
With EU humanitarian funding, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supports migrants throughout the process and provides legal information on their rights.
Thanks to this assistance, Jeimmy, Tomás and 6,500 Venezuelan migrants and refugees received legal guidance to get the documents they needed to legally settle in Colombia.
Story by Daniele Pagani, Regional Information Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Publication date: 05/10/2022