GENEVA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of asylum applications by citizens of Venezuela has doubled this year compared to last year, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said Friday.
Last year, there were some 27,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers worldwide. So far in 2017, over 52,000 have applied for asylum, UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said at a media briefing.
"The above figures represent only a fraction of the total number of Venezuelans who may be in need of international protection, as many do not register as asylum seekers," he said.
This is despite the fact that many people have indicated that they fled because of violence and insecurity, as well as an inability to meet daily subsistence needs.
Many people have fled the country during a power struggle between left and right wing political forces in recent months in the South American country, the UN agency said. It comes as President Nicolas Maduro is seeking to find a way to rewrite the constitution to lead the country out of its political and economic crisis.
The main countries of destination for Venezuelan asylum seekers this year have been the United States (18,300), Brazil (12,960), Argentina (11,735), Spain (4,300), Uruguay (2,072) and Mexico (1,044).
"Thanks to a long standing tradition of solidarity in Latin America, Venezuelan citizens in neighboring countries can benefit from various forms of temporary residence in those countries," said Spindler.
However, due to bureaucratic obstacles, long waiting periods and high application fees, he said many Venezuelans opt to remain in an irregular situation instead of using asylum or migratory procedures to regularize their stay.
It is estimated that among the 300,000 Venezuelans in Colombia, 40,000 in Trinidad and Tobago and 30,000 in Brazil, many may be in this situation.
Challenges posed by the large influx of Venezuelans in nearby countries include international protection and physical security considerations, lack of documentation, sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse, and lack of access to basic rights and services, said Spindler.
In certain areas, armed groups and criminal gangs are exploiting the newly-arrived Venezuelans and the local population, said UNHCR.
