Impact of COVID-19 Among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Peru

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MMC Latin America and the Caribbean 4Mi Snapshot - July 2020 Impact of COVID-19 among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru

This snapshot seeks to provide an overview of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Figure 1. Age range and sex Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru. It aims to contribute towards building a solid evidence base to inform targeted responses on the ground, as well as advocacy efforts related to the situation of refugees and migrants during the coronavirus pandemic. 18-25 28%

26-35 37% Recommendations 36-45 24% • Increase humanitarian assistance in order to limit the impact of the COVID-19 crisis for Age groups Age migrants and refugees. 46-55 8% Responses to COVID-19 survey (n=219) • Prioritize cash-based assistance to ensure that refugees and migrants can cover their >55 2% most pressing needs. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% • Disseminate information to increase Venezuelan refugees’ and migrants’ awareness of existing assistance programs and how to access them.

• Ensure that refugees and migrants are adequately included in government relief programmes.

Profiles 40% 60% The analysis is based on 219 surveys conducted in Peru between 6 April and 30 June

2020. Data collection was carried out remotely by phone. Women Men

At the time of interview, 87% of respondents were in the city of Lima; the rest were spread out over the cities of Trujillo, Ica, Arequipa, Lambayeque, and Chilca.

60% of those interviewed were women and 40% were men. The average age of The educational level of interviewees is mainly medium-high: 47% of respondents have a respondents was 32.7 years. university degree, 45% completed secondary school, while 5% completed primary school.

1 Impact on migration: 27% of respondents With regard to refugees’ and migrants’ plans for the future, despite 59% of respondents not having changed their travel plans as a result of the crisis, 27% had decided to return planning to return home due to the to their country of origin due to the pandemic (see Figure 3). COVID-19 crisis The impact of COVID-19 on the mobility of Venezuelans in Peru was limited: more than Figure 3. Have you changed your plans as a result of the coronavirus half (57%) of the refugees and migrants interviewed indicated that the COVID-19 crisis outbreak? had no impact on their migration journey. As indicated in a previous snapshot1, one reason for this relatively limited impact of the pandemic on migration journeys may be that most No 59% respondents interviewed in Peru indicated having reached their final destination already Yes, I have decided 27% (90%). However, for 18% of interviewees, the crisis had made them too afraid to move, to return home see Figure 2.

Yes (other) 6% Figure 2. What impact has the coronavirus crisis had on your migration journey? Yes, I have changed my intended 5% destination

None 57% Yes, I changed my planned routes 3% but my destination Responses to remains the same I feel too afraid to COVID-19 survey move (to continue my 18% (n=219)* journey or return) Yes, have stopped here for a time 1% because I am stuck

Other 15% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Increased difficulty *Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question. moving around 5% inside countries

Increased risk of detention and 3% deportation

Responses to Refused 3% COVID-19 survey Impact on daily life: vast majority of respondents (n=219)* reported reduced access to work Increased difficulty 2% crossing borders The greatest impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the daily life of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru was reduced access to work, mentioned by 88% of respondents.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Additionally, 61% of respondents indicated stronger feelings of stress and worry, while 46% reported a reduced availability of basic goods and 21% noted an increase of racism *Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question. and xenophobia among the local population (see Figure 4). In line with the perception of racism and xenophobia, 47% of respondents reported, in a separate question, that

1 MMC America Latina and the Caribbean (2020) Impact of COVID-19 on Venezuelan refugees and migrants. one of the main barriers they would face in accessing health services is discrimination

2 against foreigners. According to additional information shared by 4Mi monitors in Peru, 91% of respondents lost income because of the respondents often mention that administrative or security staff prevented them from accessing health services based on their nationality. pandemic Most respondents (91%) reported having lost income due to the restrictions imposed 41% of refugees and migrants interviewed also indicated other ways in which the during the COVID-19 crisis. This loss of income has serious consequences: 69% of pandemic impacted their daily life, mainly reporting lack of financial resources and respondents indicated an increase in worry and anxiety; 68% mentioned not being able difficulties paying the rent. to afford basic products, 58% were unable to send remittances to the country of origin, and 52% had lost their housing or had difficulty paying rent. (see Figure 5). Figure 4. What impacts has the crisis had on your day-to-day life? Figure 5. What impact has the loss of income had?

Reduced access 88% to work Increased worry 69% and anxiety I am more worried 61% and stressed I am unable to 68% afford basic goods Reduced availability 46% of basic goods I am unable to 58% pay remittances

Other 41% Loss of housing / difficulty 52% Responses to paying rent Increased racism 21% COVID-19 survey and xenophobia (n=219)* Other 18%

Reduced access to 10% asylum application I am unable Respondents to continue 5% who lost income my journey (n=199)* 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

*Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

*Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question.

3 Strong unmet needs for cash assistance amid Only 32% of respondents reported having received additional assistance during the crisis. Of these respondents, 96% received assistance related to their basic needs (water, food the pandemic and/or shelter) while only 17% received cash assistance, indicating a strong unmet need 85% of respondents reported additional assistance needs since the COVID-19 crisis in this area. Additionally, 15% received protective equipment. began. Surveys highlighted a widespread lack of knowledge regarding available assistance Most required assistance related to covering their basic needs, including water, food for refugees and migrants amid the pandemic among respondents: 47% of those who and/or shelter (79%). Cash was the second most frequently mentioned need (72% of reported needing some type of assistance also stated not knowing who they could ask respondents), followed by access to work and/or livelihoods (15%), and protective gear for help. 32% of them would turn to NGOs for help, while 21% would go to friends and/or (13%), see Figure 6. family, 13% would ask for help from the Venezuelan consulate, and only 6% would think of the Peruvian authorities as a source of assistance (see Figure 7). Figure 6. What kind of extra help? Figure 7. If you needed extra help, who would you ask for support? Other basic needs: 79% food, water, shelter

Don’t know 47% Cash 72%

Access to work 15% NGOs 32% and livelihoods

Distrbution of sanitary items (sanitizer / 13% Family / friends 21% mask / gloves / etc)

Cash to pay for 11% health services My country of nationality’s 13% consulate Psychological 8% assistance Other 8%

Other 4% The government of the country I 6% Support to 3% was / am in return home

Access to health 3% Fellow migrants 5% services

Information about Local population 3% Respondents the virus / community 3% Respondents who have needed organisations who have needed extra help Documentation extra help to access 2% (n=186)* (n=186)* health services UN 2%

Childcare 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% *Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question. *Note: Respondents may select more than one answer to this question. 4 Funded by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

4Mi & COVID-19 The Mixed Migration Monitoring Mechanism Initiative (4Mi) is the Mixed Migration Centre’s flagship primary data collection system, an innovative approach that helps fill knowledge gaps, and inform policy and response regarding the nature of mixed migratory movements. Normally, the recruitment of respondents and interviews take place face-to-face. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face recruitment and data collection has been suspended in all countries.

MMC has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by changing the data it collects and the way it collects it. Respondents are recruited through a number of remote or third-party mechanisms; sampling is through a mixture of purposive and snowball approaches. A new survey focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on refugees and migrants, and the surveys are administered by telephone, by the 4Mi monitors in West Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Asia and Latin America. Findings derived from the surveyed sample should not be used to make inferences about the total population of refugees and migrants, as the sample is not representative. The switch to remote recruitment and data collection results in additional potential bias and risks, which cannot be completely avoided. Further measures have been put in place to check and – to the extent possible – control for bias and to protect personal data. See more 4Mi analysis and details on methodology at www.mixedmigration.org/4mi

This document covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.