Dozens of migrants have been stranded between Chile and Peru for several days. The UN Refugee Agency is concerned about the fate of families who then find themselves trapped between the two countries in extremely vulnerable conditions.
with our correspondent in Santiago, Naila Derroisne
There are migrants who are in Peru and wish to cross to the Chilean side, and conversely, those who leave Chile to reach their country of origin via Peru. However, Chile has strengthened its migration controls by deploying soldiers who monitor the borders in the north of the country. And Peru, it has mobilized nearly 200 police officers to prevent the passage of undocumented migrants who abandon Chile.
On each side of the border, there are families with children, without access to water, without food or shelter and without medical assistance. They are either in Santa Rosa, Peru side or in the village of Chacalluta, Chile side. And neither country lets them in because they are undocumented.
According to the UN, half of these migrants are of Haitian nationality, the rest are Venezuelans or Colombians. The UN organization asks the two countries to quickly find a solution. But between them the situation became tense following the broadcast of a report by a Peruvian television channel, which shows Chilean soldiers showing the way to migrants to reach the neighboring country.
The Peruvian Prime Minister expressed his concern if these facts turned out to be real. While the Chilean government has opened an investigation to clarify the situation.
For several months, Chile has been facing a strong migratory wave and is struggling to control it. In February, Congress approved legislation to deploy the armed forces on these territories in tension, bordering Peru and Bolivia.
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