Peru grants asylum to fleeing Venezuelans

Venezuelans are rushing out of their homeland to join those who have already fled a deepening economic crisis, as regional governments struggle to cope with one of the biggest exoduses in Latin American history

Tumbes ( Peru), Aug. 25: Peru granted asylum to hundreds of Venezuelans that missed a deadline to enter the country before new passport regulations came into effect on Saturday, as they flee poverty and shortages of basic necessities in their crisis- ridden homeland.

Venezuelans are rushing out of their homeland to join those who have already fled a deepening economic crisis, as regional governments struggle to cope with one of the biggest exoduses in Latin American history.

A rising backlash to waves of migrants prompted tougher border controls in both Ecuador and Peru - - though Ecuador later reversed course.

"Luckily, everything went well and I could get in asking for asylum," 19- year- old Alejandra Osta told AFP as she filled out an official form at a border post in Tumbes, Peru.

By late morning around a hundred Venezuelans were queueing to enter an office to seek refugee status, while the wait for those crossing the border with passports was short.

"Here, we've been received really well," said 33- year- old Jose Luis Araujo, a teacher who had traveled more than 2,000kilometers ( 1,300 miles) to enter Peru with a passport. Peru's move came into effect at midnight on Friday ( 0500 GMT Saturday).

Before then, thousands of Venezuelans, some carrying small children and many having travelled mostly on foot, rushed towards the Peruvian border to try to beat the deadline.

Of the 2.3 million Venezuelans living abroad, more than 1.6 million have fled the country since the crisis began in 2015, according to UN figures.

The pace of departures has accelerated in recent days, sparking a warning from the United Nations.