Monthly Situation Overview II: Venezuelan asylu seekers and igrants living outside of shelters, Boa Vista city July 2018 BACKGROUND Since early 2015, populations have been leaving Venezuela due to social, econoic and political turoil. It is estiated that 54,000 people have entered Brazil, of which 25,000 are currently in the northern city of Boa Vista, capital of Roraia state. 1 Throughout 2018 the rate of arrivals has increased, stretching the city s capacity to provide access to basic services. There are currently inforation gaps on the needs and vulnerabilities of Venezuelan asylu seekers and igrants in the city, particularly those living outside of shelters anaged by huanitarian actors. REACH, in support of the United Nations High Coissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partners, is conducting regular area-based assessents to assist huanitarian planning and response. This report follows an initial baseline conducted in the city 2 and ais to provide an update on vulnerabilities and priority needs of affected populations. KEY FINDINGS Iproved access to livelihoods, as well as iproved eployent conditions, was highlighted by FGD participants as a priority need for Venezuelans living across Boa Vista. The ajority reportedly lack inforation on job opportunities as well as their labour rights. Shelter is reportedly becoing ore difficult to access. During the onth of July, FGD participants indicated increasing challenges faced when renting housing, due to rising rental prices and perceived discriination by landlords. The population living in vulnerable conditions 3 did not appear to decrease during July. Whilst soe populations had oved fro these locations into anaged shelters which had free spaces due to the voluntary relocation prograe, 4 newly arrived populations continued to transit through or reain in these conditions. Venezuelans in Boa Vista reportedly generally have access to health and education services. However, FGD participants indicated that services are becoing increasingly strained resulting in delays in accessing services as well as issues with the quality of service provided. FGD participants indicated a desire for increased integration with host counities. Although relations are generally without tension, they noted that cultural and language exchanges and events, as well as inforation capaigns, would help reduce perceived discriination and increase tolerance. 1. Boa Vista Municipality, July 2018. 2. June baseline report available here: English, Portuguese 3. This includes public spaces, tents, open air, akeshift shelters, unfinished or heavily daaged buildings with liited access to basic services. Due to the transitory nature of uch of the population living in these conditions, inforation on each vulnerability case can be considered relevant at the specific tie of data collection only, and aggregated inforation is indicative only. 4. Prograa de Interiorização (in Portuguese) is a governent-led voluntary relocation prograe, ipleented with the support of UN agencies, that ais to facilitate the integration of Venezuelan asylu seekers and igrants in the Brazilian society and labour arket. The prograe includes transportation elsewhere, housing, and integration support. Map 1. Assessed neighbourhoods k 0 1,5 3 Silvio Leite METHODOLOGY União Nova Cauaé Cauaé São Francisco Legend Macro Area boundary Assessed neighbourhood Military area Forest Rivers and lakes REACH conducted priary data collection between 13 July and 6 August 2018 in 29 of 57 neighbourhoods in Boa Vista city (see Map 1 above). Data was collected through 29 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with a total of 203 Venezuelan asylu seekers and igrants (114 woen and 89 en). Participants were selected fro their neighbourhood of residence and chosen based on their knowledge of ulti-sectoral needs of populations. Further, cases where people were living in vulnerable conditions were verified through direct observation and data collection in the locations reported by FGD participants. Given the ethodology used, the inforation presented here should be considered indicative only. 1
DEMOGRAPHICS According to data collected by the Municipality of Boa Vista, 5 the ajority of Venezuelans currently living in Boa Vista are aged 15 to 60 years (74%), and over half of Venezuelans in Boa Vista are ale (57%). Both FGD and KIs indicated that little to no indigenous groups are currently living outside of shelters in Boa Vista other than in acro area. 6 DISPLACEMENT In July, areas of origin of Venezuelan FGD participants reained siilar to participants assessed in June. The ajority were fro the Northeast region (56%, priarily Monagas and Anzoategui states), followed by Bolivar state in the south (19%) that shares a border with Roraia state (Brazil). Siilarly, push factors for leaving Venezuela and pull factors attracting populations to Brazil reained the sae as the previous onth. The ost coonly reported push factors were econoic factors such as inflation, uneployent and low wages, as well as the lack of food and basic services in Venezuela, in particular health and education, followed by increasing insecurity. The ost coonly reported pull factors were the geographic proxiity and lower cost of travelling to Brazil in coparison to other destinations, as well as the fact that it is possible for Venezuelan nationals to cross the border without a passport. SHELTER As during the previous onth, Venezuelans are reportedly living priarily in shared rented housing, though with hundreds observed in vulnerable shelter conditions across the city (see ap 2 on following page). Whilst in June it was reported that soe Venezuelans were residing in spaces granted by host counity ebers or sharing hoes with Brazilian failies, this was less coonly reported during July. Further, across the city, it has reportedly becoe increasingly difficult for Venezuelans to rent houses, due to perceived discriination by landlords and increasing rental prices. In acro-area, FGD participants reported that landlords perceive Venezuelans to be less likely to be able to eet rental coitents, and as such, soe landlords give preferential rates to Brazilians. 5. Data was collected betweeen 28 May and 9 June through interviews with 9,000 Venezuelans; sapling was not representative. 6. There is currently one shelter (located in acro area and called by the sae nae) accoodating Venezuelan indigenous populations currently living in Boa Vista. Factsheet with July inforation is available here: LINK LEGAL STATUS The legal status of Venezuelans living in Boa Vista did not change significantly between assessents conducted in June and July, with the ajority reportedly registered with the Brazilian Federal Police. 7 According to FGD participants, the ost coon legal status is to be registered as asylu seekers. This legal pathway requires less docuentation and the process is perceived to be easier than others. The second ost coon legal status of Venezuelans in Boa Vista is reportedly the teporary residence. FGD participants indicated that Venezuelans often prefer this docuentation as it is perceived to facilitate local integration, ease return to Venezuela (ainly in order to send oney and food to their faily ebers), facilitate local integration and allow greater protection due to its longer validity. 8 However, the teporary residence process requires ore docuentation and typically takes longer than the asylu seeker application. ACCESS TO INFORMATION In Boa Vista, Venezuelan FGD participants reported to have little inforation about their legal rights and accessible legal services in cases of violation of their rights. Inforation is coonly obtained through inforal sources, in particular personal acquaintances and social edia (Facebook and Whatsapp groups). According to FGD participants, in July, there was increased access to obile internet, through both public and private connections. This was considered a priority for FGD participants as it enables the to follow up with their legal docuentation process as well as counicate with friends and faily ebers. LIVELIHOODS Venezuelans living in Boa Vista face substantial challenges to accessing livelihoods opportunities, priarily due to a perceived discriination and language barriers, as well as an absence of certain docuentation and lack of jobs available in the city. Further, they are also exposed to significant labour risks such as lack of safety equipent provided for work, sexual and oral harassent (in the case of woen) and traffic accidents 9 either while working or couting. According to FGD participants, for the ajority of Venezuelans the priary livelihood opportunities available are inforal. Typically, Venezuelans reported to work fro 10 to 15 days in inforal activities paid on daily basis, at a wage varying between 20 and 50 BRL. 10 The ost coonly reported occupations for en were stoneasons, carpenter and gardener, while woen reportedly work ainly as cleaners, hairdressers, anicurists and street vendors. 7. Federal Police is the body responsible for the registration of foreign nationals. 8. Under Brazilian legislation (2017) Venezuelans nationals have the right to apply for teporary residence in Brazil, which is valid for 2 years, whereas asylu seeker status needs to be renew annually. 9. Due to coon types of eployent of Venezuelans (street vendors, roadside gardeners), the fact that any use bicycles rather than cars to travel, as well 2 as reported targeting of Venezuelan pedestrians or cyclists by intiidating acts using otorised vehicles. 10. 1 BRL = 0.26 USD.
Map 2. Venezuelans living in vulnerable conditions 11 in Boa Vista Across Boa Vista, there are large nubers of Venezuelans currently living in public spaces, tents, open air, akeshift shelters, unfinished buildings or heavily daaged structures. Around 1,500 people were observed living in these conditions, Macro Area boundary Legend Ô Shelter Secondary 12 road Vulnerable group Military area 5-14 Forest 15-70 Rivers 70-249 and lakes 250-520 Macro Area boundary Military area Forest Rivers and lakes Laura Moreira Murilo Teixeira of which at least 100 are below the age of 18. The largest concentrations are found close to the shelters anaged Legend by huanitarian actors and the ain bus terinal on the intersection Ô Shelter between São Francisco and acroareas, around the Floresta anaged shelter in Cauaé, Vulnerable group Laura Moreira and around other anaged shelters in and União. 5-14 15-70 70-249 250-520 Conjunto Cidadão Murilo Teixeira Aírton Rocha Equatorial Conjunto Cidadão Equatorial Silvio Leite Silvio Leite Aírton Rocha São Bento Distrito Industrial Governador Aquilino Mota Duarte Marechal Rondon Ô 13 de Setebro Paraviana Ô Olípico Ô Monte das Calungá Jóquei CaranãClube Cauaé Cinturão Aeroporto Sílvio Oliverias Verde Botelho Ô 13 de Satélite Setebro União Dos Estados Tropical União Caranã Cauaé Nossa Senhora Professora 31 de Piscicultura Aparecida Araceli Março Tancredo Priavera Santa Marechal Souto Neves Maior São Bento Floresta Rondon São Francisco Canarinho Teresa Ô Operário Caibé Raiar do Sol São Pedro Nova Silvio Liberdade Mecejana Alvorada Ô Leite Centro Bela VistaÔ Buritis Ô Nova Asa Branca Ô Cabará Distrito Industrial Pricuã São Vicente Governador Aquilino Ô Olípico Ô Mota Duarte Calungá Jóquei Clube Cinturão Verde Santa Luzia Senador Hélio Capos Santa Luzia Senador Hélio Capos Alvorada Nova Canaã Sílvio Botelho Satélite União Operário Nova Ô Cabará Tropical Nova União Piscicultura Priavera Santa Teresa Silvio Ô Leite Nova Canaã Caranã Professora Araceli Souto Maior Bela Vista Caranã Tancredo Neves Caibé Ô Asa Branca Raiar do Sol Cauaé Cauaé Cauaé Ô Buritis Monte das Oliverias Aeroporto Ô Dos Estados Said Saloão 31 de Março Pedra Pintada Floresta São Francisco Liberdade Pricuã Mecejana São Vicente Centro Paraviana Nossa Senhora Aparecida Canarinho São Pedro Caçari São Francisco Caçari São Francisco Cinco de Outubro Cinco de Outubro These populations typically do not have access to electricity, water or sanitation facilities, except where they are peritted to use facilities by churches or local authorities. Further, in soe of these areas, populations reported the need to ove around regularly to find soewhere to sleep, due to street clearance by authorities. Whilst any people reported to be interested in oving to a anaged shelter, a inority expressed an unwillingness to do so. This is due to the perception that they will have less privacy and security in the shelters. In general, the perception of anaged shelters has iproved in the past two onths, with fewer people reporting to be unwilling to ove to the. k 0 1,5 3 k 0 1,5 3 3 11. This includes public spaces, tents, open air, akeshift shelters, unfinished or heavily daaged buildings with liited access to basic services. Due to the transitory nature of uch of the population living in these conditions, inforation on each vulnerability case can be considered relevant at the specific tie of data collection only, and aggregated inforation is indicative only. 12. Foral shelters anaged by huanitarian actors. More inforation on each is available here: Floresta, Nova Canaa, Pintolandia, Sao Vicente, Tancredo Neves.
ACCESS TO SERVICES Health As was the case in June, the ajority of FGD participants reported that although they do not have ajor issues accessing health services, there is soe perceived discriination towards the by both hospital staff and Brazilian clients. Further, reflective of the increasing strain on services, in July participants started to report issues related to health service capacity, such as long queues for health services and facing long delays between initial diagnosis and subsequent treatent. This excess of deand was particularly notable in Cauaé acroarea, reportedly due to the high concentration of Venezuelans in this area. Education FGD participants reported that children were generally able to access education services, though those without the required identification docuentation coonly faced difficulties and delays in registration. Further, a lack of places is reportedly becoing an increasing issue, particularly in, União, Cauaé and acro-areas. Participants also noted that integration of students could be iproved in soe schools, as there were reports of bullying or discriination towards Venezuelan students by both students and teachers. Huanitarian assistance In July, FGD participants and vulnerable populations reported that there had been an increased deand for food and other assistance over the past onth. As such, in soe areas such as near the Floresta anaged shelter and along the Rua 13 de Septebro in São Francisco, vulnerable populations are reportedly receiving less assistance when copared to June. As in June, the ost coonly reported aid actors providing this type of assistance were religious institutions, followed by civil society actors including non-organised host counity ebers. Separately, over the past two onths, there has reportedly been increased access to governent assistance prograes, such as the Bolsa Failia 13, as ore people have ore infroation about these prograes through various eans. Overall, participants noted that the priority need of Venezuelans living across the city was increased access to livelihood opportunities. PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE In general, FGD participants reported that the relations with host counities had not changed significantly since June and were generally positive, with generosity and cordiality noted as the 4 predoinant attitudes of Brazilians towards Venezuelans. However, isolated incidents of tension or aggression continued, particularly in União, São Francisco and Cauaé neighbourhoods. The ost coon incidents reported were perceived distrust and discriination, verbal harassent, and intiidating acts using otorized vehicles against Venezuelan pedestrians. To facilitate integration into counities and iprove relations with host counities, Venezuelan FGD participants were particularly interested in cultural and language exchanges or projects. Soe participants also indicated that inforation capaigns would be beneficial, to increase host counity awareness of the reasons for Venezuelan oveent to Boa Vista, as well as to proote tolerance and fair treatent. PROTECTION Vulnerable population As shown in Map 2 and the acro area aps on the following pages, large nubers of Venezuelans continued to live in public spaces, tents, open air, non-used public buildings or abandoned/daaged houses. Throughout July, parts of these populations reportedly oved into anaged shelters, which had spaces available as soe previous residents left to participate in the voluntary relocation prograe. However, the influx of population into the city continued on a reportedly daily basis, resulting in overall increased nubers of people living in these conditions. 14 Protection concern for children As reported in June, child labour 15 was reportedly prevalent across the city, ost coonly in São Francisco, Cauaé and acro areas. The ost coon type of labour reported in FGD discussions was child begging, with soe sporadic reports of street vending and plastic waste collection. About REACH REACH is a joint initiative of two international non-governental organisations - ACTED and IMPACT Initiatives - and the UN Operational Satellite Applications Prograe (UNOSAT). REACH ais to strengthen evidence-based decision aking by aid actors through efficient data collection, anageent and analysis before, during and after an eergency. By doing so, REACH contributes to ensuring that counities affected by eergencies receive the support they need. All REACH activities are conducted in support to, and within the fraework of, inter-agency aid coordination echaniss. For ore inforation, please visit our website: www.reach-initiative.org. You can contact us directly at: geneva@reach-initiative.org and follow us on Twitter: @REACH_info. 13. Social welfare prograe of the Brazilian governent which provides financial aid to failies in return for failies ensuring children attend school and are vaccinated. 14. Due to the transitory nature of uch of this population, inforation on each vulnerability case can be considered relevant at the specific tie of data collection only, and aggregated inforation is indicative only. 15. Child labour is defined as labour that deprives children of their childhood, potential and dignity, and that is harful to physical or ental developent (ILO).
Macro Area Profile: Cauaé Cauaé is a relatively new acro area in the peri-urban area of the city that contains nuerous buildings under construction. These are occasionally provided by the host counity as shelter for Venezuelans in exchange for security or aintenance. Further, Liberdade neighbourhood has a high concentration of Venezuelan residents due to its centrality and the presence of Ataíde Teive and Venezuela avenues, where street vendors carry out their activities. Shelterless population in this acro area have been living near institutions that provide assistance such as the Catholic Counity of São Bento and Floresta Shelter, and also in the northern neighbourhoods of Cauaé and Said Saloão. Couple living without access to WASH infrastructure, one with lung cancer. Type of housing: Abandoned caravan Faily group/size: 2 Water access: No Shelter Area of vulnerable group Vulnerable group Public health services (UBS) Roraia general hospital Cauaé Macro Area Inforal neighbourhood Military area River and lakes Faily living in unstable/incoplete structure. Type of housing: Unfinished building Faily group/size: 6 (3 children) Caranã Caranã Group of people living in a heavily daaged structure. Type of housing: Abandoned house Faily group/size: 30 (9 children, 1 elderly) People with disabilities: 1 Cauaé Floresta Monte das Oliverias Liberdade Said Saloão Pedra Pintada Aeroporto Cauaé Macro Area Large groups of people living in few different streets, around Floresta shelter. Type of housing: Street, tents, open air Faily group/size: +/- 250 (18 children) People with disabilities: 5 Groups of people living next to a church. Type of housing: Street, tents, open air Faily group/size: 15 (1 child) People with disabilities: 1 0 500 1.000 5
Macro Area Profile: São Francisco São Francisco acro area, located along the Branco River in the northeast of the city, often serves as a transit location for newly arrived Venezuelans as it contains the ain adinistrative and coercial centre of Boa Vista, as well as the ain bus terinal. There are large nubers of Venezuelans in central neighbourhoods, including any living on the streets priarily in 13 de Setebro and Sao Vicente neighbourhoods, though there are fewer Venezuelans living in Paraviana, Caçari and Cinco de Outubro. After location and centrality, the availability of livelihood opportunities was reported as a second ost coon reason for people choosing to live in the acro-area. Many of these opportunities are reportedly inforal or irregular, in occupations such as gardeners, street vendors, or house cleaners. Shelter Area of vulnerable group Vulnerable group Public health services (UBS) Roraia general hospital Paraviana Dos Estados Nossa 31 de Senhora Março Aparecida Canarinho São Francisco São Pedro Mecejana Centro Latife Saloão São Vicente São Vicente Calungá Caçari Cinco de Outubro Groups of people living a ruined house with unstable structure. Type of housing: Ruined house Faily group/size: 30 Many groups of people living around São Vicente shelter and bus station. Type of housing: Street, tents, open air São Francisco Macro Area Faily group/size: +/- 761 (43 children and 3 elderly) São Francisco Macro Area 13 de People with disabilities: 3 Setebro Area of low presence of Venezuelans Military area Rivers and lakes 0 500 1.000 6
Macro Area Profile: Centenario acro area hosts a relatively large nuber of Venezuelans, priarily living in rented houses though there are cases of shelterless or vulnerable groups across the acro area. The priary reasons that Venezuelans choose to settle here are the presence of faily ebers or friends, as well as the low cost of housing, with rental prices varying between 250 and 500 BRL. There are particularly large nubers of igrants and asylu seekers fro Venezuela living in Buritis, Pricua, Asa Branca and neighbourhoods, which are attractive due to the presence of services and coercial activity, notably along the Ataíde Teive avenue. People sleeping under shop arquees. Type of housing: Street, open air Faily group/size: 29 (1 child) People with disabilities: 2 Water access: No People living in tents inside a daaged structure. Type of housing: Unfinished house Faily group/size: 10 (2 children) Area of vulnerable group Vulnerable group Public health services (UBS) Jóquei Clube Asa Branca Professora Araceli Souto Maior Macro Area Rivers and lakes Buritis Cinturão Verde São Bento Pricuã Group of people sleeping around a gas station. Type of housing: Street, open air Faily group/size: 50 (1 child and 1 elderly) Macro Area Two faily groups living in a partially collapsed akeshift structure. Type of housing: Makeshift house Faily group/size: 7 (4 children) People with disabilities: 1 Shelterless population around Rodoviária Internacional de Boa Vista (see São Francisco ap). 0 500 1.000 7
Macro Area Profile: Nova Nova acro area is located approxiately 10k fro the center of Boa Vista, and presents a lower concentration of Venezuelans in the area. Beyond the presence of faily ebers and personal acquaintances, the low cost of housing and services, as well as the proxiity to workplaces, otivated Venezuelans to reside in this region. The neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of Venezuelans are Raiar do Sol, Nova and Bela Vista. Rental roos, predoinant housing option in the area, have prices less than 500 BRL, in houses shared by 6 to 10 people. Job opportunities are liited in this region, reported fro 5 to 10 days of work within 30 days, ainly perforing irregular and inforal activities such as asonry, weeding, cleaning services, anicuring and recycling. Many FGD participants reported to have access to Bolsa Faília, a national social assistance progra. In this acroarea there were no cases of people living in vulnerable conditions observed. Nova Macro Area Aírton Rocha Operário Raiar do Sol Bela Vista Nova Dist. Ind. Gov. Aquilino Mota Duarte Public school Public health services (UBS) Nova Macro Area Rivers and lakes 0 500 1.000 8
Macro Area Profile: União União acro area is characterized by the large presence of Venezuelans, particularly in Tancredo Neves, Caibé, União and Satelite neighbourhoods. Shelterless populations were reported in the avenues Mario Hoe de Melo, Dos Iigrantes, São Sebastião and Mané Garrincha Square. As União contains the interunicipal bus terinal and departure point for any taxis to Pacaraia (border town with Venezuela), it is often a first stop for Venezuelans oving to Boa Vista. Many choose to reain due to the presence of faily ebers, as well as access to rental houses at a relatively low cost. However, access to job opportunities is liited: few Venezuelans reported to have worked in the past 30 days, with an average of 5-15 days work per onth. União Macro Area Shelter Group of people sleeping in Mané Garrincha square. Type of housing: Street, open air Faily group/size: 15 (1 child) Area of vulnerable group Vulnerable group Health public service (UBS) União Macro Area River and Lake Satélite Groups of people living in a abandoned warehouse around Tancredo Neves shelter. Type of housing: Unfinished building Faily group/size: 75 (5 children) Piscicultura Santa Teresa Priavera União Tancredo Neves Santa Tereza People living in a structure without roof. Type of housing: Unfinished house Faily group/size: 5 (1 child) Caibé Tancredo Neves Shelterless people sleeping under arquees of buildings along Mário Hoe de Mello avenue. Type of housing: Street, open air Faily group/size: 57 (6 children, 1 elderly) 0 250 500 9
Macro Area Profile: Silvio Leite Silvio Leite acro area is located about 8k fro the center of Boa Vista, and it hosts a relatively low nuber of Venezuelans copared to elsewhere in the city. The neighbourhoods of Dr. Silvio Leite, Alvorada and Santa Luzia host soe Venezuelans priarily due to low rental costs and the presence of faily ebers. The ost coon shelter type is rental housing, coonly shared between 6 to 10 people or 2 to 3 different faily groups. Access to job opportunities is particularly liited in coparison to elsewhere, with average wages between 25 to 50 BRL per day. In this acro area there were no cases of people living in vulnerable conditions observed. Laura Moreira Murilo Teixeira Equatorial Alvorada Santa Luzia Dr. Silvio Leite Silvio Leite Macro Area Public school Public health services (UBS) River and lake Silvio Leite Macro Area 0 500 1.000 10
Macro Area Profile: acro area is one of the ost densely populated regions of Boa Vista city, offering low cost housing, access to an alternative coercial centre, as well as several educational and health institutions. The neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of Venezuelans are Dr. Silvio Botelho, Cabará, and Senador Hélio Capos. Venezuelans living in this area reported to have been refused rental housing in other areas of the city due to a perceived discriination. Further, within the acro area FGD participants reported a deterioration in the relationship with Brazilians, including a sense of distrust by the host counity. Nova Canaã Nova Canaã Cabará Macro Area Senador Hélio Capos Olípico Sílvio Botelho Tropical People sleeping around Nova Canãa shelter Type of housing: Open air, tents Faily group/size: 22 (1 child) Water access: No Shelter Vulnerable group Health public service Roraia general hospital Macro Area River and lakes 0 250 500 11