Diaspora stems from the Greek word meaning to scatter about.   A diaspora occurs when a community of people is dispersed or scattered from their native territory and settles in another geographic location. Diasporas come about through emigration and forced movements of people.

While originally associated with loss and exile, this movement of people has occurred throughout history for several reasons which include:

• Religious (Jewish diaspora)
• Social/economic (Chinese diaspora)
• Political (Armenian and Syrian diaspora)
• Natural disasters (Irish potato famine diaspora)

Other words for diaspora are emigration, displacement, dispersal, population movement, dispersion, scattering, mass dislocation and mass exodus.

 

The dramatic exodus and diaspora from Venezuela in recent years, due to political, economic, and social crises, is one of the most significant mass migrations in modern history.

Some 7.7 million people have left Venezuela in the last 10 years.  This represents more than 25% of the country’s entire population.

To put this in historical perspective,

• It is larger and faster than the Syrian Refugee Crisis (2011-present) where over 6.6 million Syrians have fled the country because of civil war, political oppression, and terrorism.
• Approximately 2 million people fled Rwanda because of the genocide (1994) against the Tutsi population by Hutu extremists.
• Approximately 1 million died and another million emigrated during the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852)
• The Jewish diaspora resulted because of the Holocaust during WWII, where 6 million Jews were killed, and survivors dispersed globally.

What makes the Venezuelan diaspora unique are its origins in economic collapse within a resource-rich nation, its rapid and large-scale nature, the absence of large-scale conflict, and the significant regional and international impacts.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. The economic collapse in a country so rich in natural resources is striking and unprecedented. The hyperinflation in Venezuela is among the worst in modern history, severely devaluing the currency and making everyday goods unaffordable.

The crisis is heavily attributed to government policies, corruption, and economic mismanagement, under Hugo Chavez’ successor Nicolas Maduro.

Where are most of the Venezuelans going?  Primarily to neighboring Latin American countries (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil) and also to the United States and Spain.

This leads to two problems.  One, Venezuelans who voluntarily or forcibly move to an alien land encounter a lot of problems like a sense of alienation, cultural loss, identity crisis, homeland memories, hybrid identity and issues of assimilation.

The second problem is that this in turn is creating a major strain on resources and social services in host countries, regional political and social challenges, and significant humanitarian aid needs.

In the United States a major political issue is immigration, especially at our southern border.  However, as a result of my travels over the last few months to Panama, Columbia and Costa Rica, i have observed that the “immigration” or “border” problem that we have in the United States is not just an American problem.  Other countries are experiencing similar challenges of significant numbers of people attempting to come to their countries.

Some describe the problem as an immigration problem.  Others describe it as a refugee issue.  Still others say it is a displacement problem.

Whatever you call it, however you describe it, the reality is that America is not the only country being affected and impacted.

The country that has been most impacted by this exodus is neighboring Columbia, where 2.9 million Venezuelans have crossed the 1,242-mile-long border for a better life and to escape the horrors in their own country.

Having recently visited Medellin, I have heard from Columbians their reaction to the immigrants.  And it is not good.  Some local citizens of Medellin are not pleased with the new immigrants from neighboring Venezuela.  The reason is because a portion of the immigrants are on the streets begging.  Others are roaming the streets, homeless.

My visits to Panama and Costa Rica uncovered similar concerns.  Columbia is not alone, but it has surely born most of the brunt of the exodus from Venezuela.

Having said that what Columbia has done to welcome the almost 3 million displaced Venezuelans is remarkable.  In an effort to prevent statelessness, the Columbian government has issued thousands of birth certificates to children of Venezuelan parents born in Columbia.  It also launched a ten-year Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan migrants.  More recently it has upheld the right to education for children on the move.

But apparently this mass emigration is going to get even bigger.  According to a recent poll, if Maduro wins reelection for another six year term on July 28, 2024, 25% of the remaining 23 million Venezuelans still residing in the country are seriously contemplating leaving.  It is estimated that currently 5,000 citizens leave the country every day.

You cannot blame the Venezuelans that are leaving their country.  If I was living there, I would be leaving too.

• Take safety and security. Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world.  According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Venezuela consistently has had one of the highest homicide rates globally in recent years, with rates exceeding 50 murders per 100,000 people. In contrast, the United States typically has a homicide rate ranging from 4 to 6 murders per 100,000 people, depending on the year and specific location within the country.

• Economic survival being another. Public employees in Venezuela earn a monthly minimum wage of $3.60 plus $130 in bonuses, while private-sector workers make on average $210 a month. Neither monthly pay is enough for a family to buy a basic basket of goods, which costs about $380.

• Just seeking a better life, one where liberty and freedom are paramount.

What, if anything, can be done to stem the exodus and make life better in Venezuela, you may ask.

A regime change is necessary.

However, over the last decade the US government along with some other countries including the European Union have tried a variety of actions designed to bring about regime change.  None of these have worked.  They include economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure and isolation, humanitarian assistance and support of the opposition, threat of military action, public statements and information campaigns.

Almost all observers believe there is no chance that Maduro will lose the election coming up in 8 weeks, given the power he has used in the past and continues to use to manipulate the results of the “election.”

What to do?

I know that the world has a lot on its plate right now – Ukraine/Russia, Gaza/Israel, Taiwan/China, to name a few.  But let’s not forget Venezuela!