Latin America Funding Update
Latin America
Operational information on the Latin America subregion is presented below. A summary of this can also be downloaded in PDF format. This subregion covers the following countries:
| Argentina | Belize (since 2018) | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Costa Rica | Cuba | Ecuador | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) |
Subregion: Latin America
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Budgets and Expenditure in Subregion Latin America
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2019
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{"categories":[2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019],"p1":[32.203277820000004,34.30039144,43.1545312,55.02505765,101.93385011,215.60632941],"p2":[0.26571356,0.97657094,0.90564873,1.1479811100000001,0.5759772900000001,0.28972168],"p3":[null,null,null,null,null,null],"p4":[17.513854329999997,14.64216903,16.7398476,14.36325336,11.86335706,8.63801236]}
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People of Concern - 2019
[["Refugees",146741],["Refugee-like situation",108760],["Asylum-seekers",937289],["IDPs",8295002],["Returned refugees",31],["Stateless",262],["Others of concern",1165107],["Venezuelans displaced abroad",3485709]]Loading ...
By the end of 2019, the situation in Latin America was turbulent, with multiple displacement crises and social tensions in host countries gradually eroding countries’ capacities to receive new arrivals.
With some 4.5 million Venezuelans displaced worldwide (nearly 2 million more than 2018), the situation signified the worst displacement crisis in the Americas in recent history; and in the global context, was second only to the Syria crisis. While 2.4 million Venezuelans managed to regularize their stay in host countries through asylum procedures or migratory permits, almost 800,000 asylum-seekers were still awaiting the resolution of their applications at the end of 2019.
The protracted Colombia conflict continued to cause internal displacement, with a total of nearly 8 million people displaced within the country by the end of 2019. An additional 5,000 Colombians sought asylum in Ecuador during the year.
In Central America, violent crimes and insecurity forced thousands of people to flee within and out of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. More than 247,100 people were internally displaced in Honduras, and some 71,500 were uprooted inside El Salvador. Nearly 469,300 Salvadorans and Hondurans crossed an international border–mainly into Mexico. The deteriorating situation in Nicaragua resulted in tens of thousands taking refuge in Costa Rica and Mexico.
Despite a tradition of open borders, the strain of constant large-scale arrivals led many countries to impose restrictions on access to territory and asylum, forcing many to enter through irregular routes. This in turn increased protection risks for many who transited throughout the region. Rising political distrust, anti-foreigner rhetoric and xenophobia further compounded a context of growing instability within many countries in the region, including Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
In this context, UNHCR responded by providing emergency assistance at the borders, including reception, orientation, shelter and referrals. It also worked in urban centres to promote the inclusion of Venezuelans through a wide range of activities and partnerships. UNHCR and its partners focused on collaboration and a whole-of-society approach to provide a comprehensive response to the crisis.
UNHCR co-led a regional inter-agency platform (R4V) with IOM to coordinate the response to the Venezuela situation, in line with the 2014 Brazil Plan of Action. UNHCR further supported a number of multilateral processes, including the Quito Process—an initiative of several Latin American countries seeking to harmonize domestic policies in receiving countries — as well as the implementation of the comprehensive protection and solutions framework, a regional application of the Global Compact on Refugees, to respond to displacement in and from Central America (MIRPS by its acronym in Spanish).
Limited funding affected UNHCR’s capacity to scale up operations to provide life-saving assistance at key border locations, including between Colombia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; in Salta (Argentina); in Tecun Uman (Guatemala); and in Costa Rica.
Assistance was only able to be provided to the most vulnerable, including children, single-headed households or individuals with severe medical conditions. With more resources, UNHCR would have expanded its activities to foster education, vocational training and access to employment, especially targeting youth.
Despite coordinated actions under the regional inter-agency coordination platform to steer the operational response in support of host countries, the regional response plan for Venezuelans in 2019 was only 52% funded. With the exception of cash grants provided to some individuals who spontaneously decided to return home, funds were insufficient to support the reintegration activities of vulnerable returnees.
With some 4.5 million Venezuelans displaced worldwide (nearly 2 million more than 2018), the situation signified the worst displacement crisis in the Americas in recent history; and in the global context, was second only to the Syria crisis. While 2.4 million Venezuelans managed to regularize their stay in host countries through asylum procedures or migratory permits, almost 800,000 asylum-seekers were still awaiting the resolution of their applications at the end of 2019.
The protracted Colombia conflict continued to cause internal displacement, with a total of nearly 8 million people displaced within the country by the end of 2019. An additional 5,000 Colombians sought asylum in Ecuador during the year.
In Central America, violent crimes and insecurity forced thousands of people to flee within and out of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. More than 247,100 people were internally displaced in Honduras, and some 71,500 were uprooted inside El Salvador. Nearly 469,300 Salvadorans and Hondurans crossed an international border–mainly into Mexico. The deteriorating situation in Nicaragua resulted in tens of thousands taking refuge in Costa Rica and Mexico.
Despite a tradition of open borders, the strain of constant large-scale arrivals led many countries to impose restrictions on access to territory and asylum, forcing many to enter through irregular routes. This in turn increased protection risks for many who transited throughout the region. Rising political distrust, anti-foreigner rhetoric and xenophobia further compounded a context of growing instability within many countries in the region, including Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
In this context, UNHCR responded by providing emergency assistance at the borders, including reception, orientation, shelter and referrals. It also worked in urban centres to promote the inclusion of Venezuelans through a wide range of activities and partnerships. UNHCR and its partners focused on collaboration and a whole-of-society approach to provide a comprehensive response to the crisis.
UNHCR co-led a regional inter-agency platform (R4V) with IOM to coordinate the response to the Venezuela situation, in line with the 2014 Brazil Plan of Action. UNHCR further supported a number of multilateral processes, including the Quito Process—an initiative of several Latin American countries seeking to harmonize domestic policies in receiving countries — as well as the implementation of the comprehensive protection and solutions framework, a regional application of the Global Compact on Refugees, to respond to displacement in and from Central America (MIRPS by its acronym in Spanish).
Limited funding affected UNHCR’s capacity to scale up operations to provide life-saving assistance at key border locations, including between Colombia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; in Salta (Argentina); in Tecun Uman (Guatemala); and in Costa Rica.
Assistance was only able to be provided to the most vulnerable, including children, single-headed households or individuals with severe medical conditions. With more resources, UNHCR would have expanded its activities to foster education, vocational training and access to employment, especially targeting youth.
Despite coordinated actions under the regional inter-agency coordination platform to steer the operational response in support of host countries, the regional response plan for Venezuelans in 2019 was only 52% funded. With the exception of cash grants provided to some individuals who spontaneously decided to return home, funds were insufficient to support the reintegration activities of vulnerable returnees.
Operational environment
Since 2015, more than 2.4 million Venezuelans have left for other countries in the region and beyond. Though many Venezuelans remain in an irregular situation, over 336,000 Venezuelans have filed asylum claims globally and nearly 727,000 benefitted from other legal forms of stay in Latin America.Most governments in the region have shown commendable solidarity towards Venezuelans though a select few have adopted restrictive measures. In order to promote regional dialogue and consensus necessary for the humanitarian response, a UNHCR and IOM Joint Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants was appointed. A new regional inter-agency coordination platform for Venezuelan refugees and migrants was set up, under the co-leadership of UNHCR and IOM. It aims to support and complement the response by national governments in affected countries while also bringing together a broad range of actors. In 2019, a Regional Response Plan for Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants will be launched.
UNHCR will continue to reinforce its field presence and support States to improve reception conditions in border areas and advocacy for legal stay, including in the areas of registration, asylum or other legal protection pathways, documentation for returnees, profiling and protection monitoring. In an effort to curb discrimination and xenophobia, awareness campaigns will be launched. Local integration efforts will be pursued, using a community-based approach, in order to benefit hosting populations alike.
In Colombia, the implementation of the historical peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) remains challenging. The humanitarian situation deteriorated in various parts of the country, with new and recurrent displacement, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement leading to an increasing influx of Colombian refugees into Ecuador. In addition, the conflict in Colombia is increasingly spilling over into Ecuador, resulting in internal displacement in Ecuador for the first time in its history in early 2018.
UNHCR will continue implementing its 2018-2020 strategy for Colombia and Ecuador while adapting it to reflect the changing dynamics. In Colombia, UNHCR will advocate for the protection of IDPs and prevention of new displacement and continue working on durable solutions through the legalization of settlements. The Office will continue to support the implementation of the peace agreement through advocacy for the rights of victims, including IDPs, as well as support to the Special Peace Jurisdiction and the Truth Commission. In Ecuador, UNHCR will continue strengthening the national asylum system, improving self-reliance for refugees and supporting the national authorities to deal with the increasingly challenging border dynamics.
There has been a significant increase in the number of people fleeing violence and persecution in the North of Central America (NCA), with more than 300,000 asylum-seekers and refugees registered globally by mid-2018, mainly in the United States of America and Mexico, double the number of the previous year. The first half of 2018 also saw an increase in the total number of deportations of people from the NCA countries and the identification of returnees with serious protection concerns. In responding to this evolving situation, UNHCR will continue to support the implementation of the comprehensive refugee response framework (CRRF) known locally by its Spanish acronym MIRPS, by strengthening responsibility-sharing mechanisms, enhancing protection of asylum-seekers, refugees, returnees and IDPs and forging new alliances with regional development actors and the private-sector. UNHCR will also work to identify funds from both national budgets and international cooperation for the implementation of MIRPS commitments.
The rapid deterioration of the situation in Nicaragua since April 2018 has led nearly 15,000 Nicaraguans to seek asylum in NCA countries, mostly in Costa Rica. In 2019, UNHCR will work to implement a regional response plan aiming at strengthening the asylum system and the preparedness and capacity of reception conditions.
Countries in the region continue to work under the Brazil Plan of Action (BPA), the regional framework for cooperation and responsibility-sharing in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2019, UNHCR will support countries to consolidate asylum systems, work towards improving registration, case management and referral mechanisms, implement the Cities of Solidarity initiative recognizing socioeconomic and cultural inclusion, expand the regional safe spaces network and continue to advocate toward the end of statelessness in the region.
2019 Budget and Expenditure in Latin America | USD
| Operation | Pillar 1 Refugee programme |
Pillar 2 Stateless programme |
Pillar 3 Reintegration projects |
Pillar 4 IDP projects |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina Regional Office | Budget Expenditure | 12,182,286 10,453,592 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 12,182,286 10,453,592 |
| Brazil | Budget Expenditure | 26,540,616 21,495,813 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 26,540,616 21,495,813 |
| Colombia | Budget Expenditure | 32,767,555 29,599,249 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 16,963,267 8,638,012 | 49,730,822 38,237,261 |
| Costa Rica | Budget Expenditure | 24,005,906 13,711,815 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 24,005,906 13,711,815 |
| Ecuador | Budget Expenditure | 38,025,536 22,253,400 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 38,025,536 22,253,400 |
| Mexico | Budget Expenditure | 60,565,518 52,369,900 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 60,565,518 52,369,900 |
| Panama Regional Office | Budget Expenditure | 63,738,571 23,546,734 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 63,738,571 23,546,734 |
| Peru | Budget Expenditure | 20,496,332 14,173,698 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 20,496,332 14,173,698 |
| Regional Legal Unit Costa Rica | Budget Expenditure | 4,223,291 2,189,552 | 981,548 289,722 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 5,204,839 2,479,274 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Budget Expenditure | 29,465,000 19,206,576 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 29,465,000 19,206,576 |
| Venezuela Regional Refugee Coordination Office | Budget Expenditure | 6,644,574 4,615,941 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 6,644,574 4,615,941 |
| Regional activities for the Americas | Budget Expenditure | 8,097,316 1,990,060 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 8,097,316 1,990,060 |
| Total | Budget Expenditure | 326,752,502 215,606,329 | 981,548 289,722 | 0 0 | 16,963,267 8,638,012 | 344,697,317 224,534,063 |
2019 Voluntary Contributions to Latin America | USD
| Earmarking / Donor | Pillar 1 Refugee programme |
Pillar 4 IDP projects |
All pillars |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latin America overall | ||||
| Private donors in Sweden | 0 | 0 | 8,748 | 8,748 |
| United States of America | 0 | 0 | 4,700,000 | 4,700,000 |
| Latin America overall subtotal | 0 | 0 | 4,708,748 | 4,708,748 |
| Argentina Regional Office | ||||
| Argentina | 0 | 0 | 107,100 | 107,100 |
| Argentina Regional Office subtotal | 0 | 0 | 107,100 | 107,100 |
| Brazil | ||||
| Brazil | 1,075,680 | 0 | 13,895 | 1,089,574 |
| Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) | 142,310 | 0 | 0 | 142,310 |
| European Union | 2,127,160 | 0 | 0 | 2,127,160 |
| International Organization for Migration | 304,622 | 0 | 0 | 304,622 |
| Italy | 1,213,593 | 0 | 0 | 1,213,593 |
| Japan | 3,795,395 | 0 | 0 | 3,795,395 |
| Private donors in Brazil | 0 | 0 | 1,468,947 | 1,468,947 |
| Private donors in Switzerland | 100 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| UN Women | 56,818 | 0 | 0 | 56,818 |
| United States of America | 6,356,796 | 0 | 2,000,000 | 8,356,796 |
| Brazil subtotal | 15,072,473 | 0 | 3,482,842 | 18,555,315 |
| Colombia | ||||
| Austria | 1,141,553 | 0 | 0 | 1,141,553 |
| Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) | 557,476 | 699,915 | 0 | 1,257,391 |
| European Union | 5,664,025 | 390,192 | 0 | 6,054,217 |
| Food and Agriculture Organization | 0 | 236,968 | 0 | 236,968 |
| France | 375,000 | 0 | 0 | 375,000 |
| Japan | 2,534,962 | 0 | 0 | 2,534,962 |
| Portugal | 68,757 | 0 | 0 | 68,757 |
| Post-Conflict MPTF for Colombia | 0 | 163,602 | 0 | 163,602 |
| Private donors in Switzerland | 4,504 | 0 | 556 | 5,060 |
| Private donors in the United States of America | 42,800 | 0 | 0 | 42,800 |
| Republic of Korea | 500,000 | 1,592,575 | 0 | 2,092,575 |
| Spain | 481,514 | 238,118 | 0 | 719,632 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1,004,016 | 1,004,016 |
| UN Peacebuilding Fund | 0 | 201,051 | 0 | 201,051 |
| UN Trust Fund for Human Security | 0 | 245,400 | 0 | 245,400 |
| United States of America | 13,600,000 | 0 | 2,500,000 | 16,100,000 |
| Colombia subtotal | 24,970,590 | 3,767,820 | 3,504,572 | 32,242,982 |
| Costa Rica | ||||
| European Union | 684,932 | 0 | 0 | 684,932 |
| United States of America | 5,876,790 | 0 | 1,000,000 | 6,876,790 |
| Costa Rica subtotal | 6,561,722 | 0 | 1,000,000 | 7,561,722 |
| Ecuador | ||||
| Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) | 80,047 | 0 | 0 | 80,047 |
| Colombia | 53,162 | 0 | 0 | 53,162 |
| European Union | 3,058,590 | 0 | 0 | 3,058,590 |
| Private donors in Germany | 37,716 | 0 | 16,884 | 54,599 |
| Private donors in the Netherlands | 789,967 | 0 | 0 | 789,967 |
| Switzerland | 201,613 | 0 | 0 | 201,613 |
| UN Peacebuilding Fund | 463,875 | 0 | 0 | 463,875 |
| UNICEF | 22,334 | 0 | 0 | 22,334 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 3,995 | 0 | 0 | 3,995 |
| United States of America | 10,542,800 | 0 | 3,000,000 | 13,542,800 |
| Ecuador subtotal | 15,254,098 | 0 | 3,016,884 | 18,270,982 |
| Mexico | ||||
| European Union | 311,343 | 0 | 0 | 311,343 |
| Private donors in Mexico | 228,982 | 0 | 679,923 | 908,905 |
| Private donors in Switzerland | 67,731 | 0 | 0 | 67,731 |
| Private donors in the United States of America | 810,000 | 0 | 935,437 | 1,745,437 |
| United States of America | 47,288,797 | 0 | 5,321,055 | 52,609,852 |
| Mexico subtotal | 48,706,853 | 0 | 6,936,415 | 55,643,269 |
| Panama Regional Office | ||||
| Canada | 37,994 | 0 | 0 | 37,994 |
| European Union | 866,946 | 0 | 0 | 866,946 |
| Spain | 468,583 | 0 | 0 | 468,583 |
| Switzerland | 502,008 | 0 | 0 | 502,008 |
| UN Peacebuilding Fund | 294,518 | 0 | 0 | 294,518 |
| United States of America | 8,016,320 | 0 | 800,000 | 8,816,320 |
| Panama Regional Office subtotal | 10,186,369 | 0 | 800,000 | 10,986,369 |
| Peru | ||||
| Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) | 235,917 | 0 | 0 | 235,917 |
| Colombia | 53,162 | 0 | 0 | 53,162 |
| European Union | 1,973,777 | 0 | 0 | 1,973,777 |
| Switzerland | 302,419 | 0 | 0 | 302,419 |
| United States of America | 6,992,261 | 0 | 0 | 6,992,261 |
| Peru subtotal | 9,557,536 | 0 | 0 | 9,557,536 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | ||||
| Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) | 1,519,202 | 0 | 0 | 1,519,202 |
| European Union | 2,977,121 | 0 | 0 | 2,977,121 |
| France | 375,000 | 0 | 0 | 375,000 |
| Italy | 613,497 | 0 | 0 | 613,497 |
| Luxembourg | 0 | 0 | 209,205 | 209,205 |
| Norway | 544,959 | 0 | 0 | 544,959 |
| Private donors in the United States of America | 55,000 | 0 | 0 | 55,000 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1,004,016 | 1,004,016 |
| UNAIDS | 0 | 0 | 50,300 | 50,300 |
| United States of America | 12,300,000 | 0 | 0 | 12,300,000 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) subtotal | 18,384,779 | 0 | 1,263,521 | 19,648,300 |
| Venezuela Regional Refugee Coordination Office | ||||
| European Union | 455,063 | 0 | 0 | 455,063 |
| United States of America | 1,682,527 | 0 | 0 | 1,682,527 |
| Venezuela Regional Refugee Coordination Office subtotal | 2,137,590 | 0 | 0 | 2,137,590 |
| Total | 150,832,010 | 3,767,820 | 24,820,082 | 179,419,912 |
