Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said at a press conference at UN headquarters that Venezuelans are leaving the country because of “instability and uncertainty” amid a crisis over the presidency.
3 MILLION PEOPLE LEFT THE COUNTRY
“Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are still the countries that are receiving the largest number of Venezuelans,” Ghedini-Williams said. UNHCR data showed that 3 million Venezuelans had left the country since 2015.
Last week, Juan Guaido, leader of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, declared himself president, a move immediately supported by US President Donald Trump, Canada and most Latin American nations.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro quickly shot back, cutting off diplomatic relations with Washington and accusing the US of orchestrating a coup against his government.