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78-year-old Venezuelan woman died while trying to cross the border into Chile
That same day, a six-month-old Bolivian baby who was crossing into Chile with her parents also died.
A 78-year-old woman of Venezuelan nationality died this weekend along with a six-month-old baby, in her quest to cross into Chilean territory through the unrecommended northern border with Bolivia, a country that has been going through a major crisis for some years. migration and humanitarian
The septuagenarian lost her life on Saturday night, at the hands of health personnel in the border area of Colchane, Chile; who cared for her and gave first aid, after her relatives sought help due to her weak condition.
The other victim is a six-month-old girl of Bolivian nationality. He also died in Colchane, when he was with his family trying to cross the wild plateau.
The military authorities of the region reported that the baby was transferred by her mother to the nearest outpatient care location, where the staff on duty found that the little girl had died and also had a history of hydrocephalus.
For about a year, the north of Chile has been going through a strong migration crisis, as a result of the massive arrival of individuals through clandestine routes, most of whom are Venezuelans.
This situation has caused border communities to collapse and Chilean inhabitants to feel threatened and invaded. Even the cases of xenophobia are becoming more evident every day.
The main route for migrants going to Chile are the dangerous highland roads, which despite being unsafe, are full of people who see Chile as the best option in Latin America to get ahead.
Most of those who make the decision to cross illegally into Chile do so believing that their lives will improve due to the economic and political stability that exists in this country, which was practically not affected by the social crisis of 2019, when the pandemic started.
In 2021, more than 20 people lost their lives crossing this border, while in this first quarter of 2022, there are already five cases of people who have died crossing these roads.
Sebastián Piñera, former president of Chile, decreed on February 17 (ending his term), a State of Exception in the provinces of Arica, Tamarugal, El Loa and Parinacota, which represents a militarization of the region. For his part, the current president, Gabriel Boric, extended said measure and it will be in force until April 15 of this year.
500 people cross the Bolivia-Chile border every day
The UN Refugee Agency (Acnur) detailed in December of last year that nearly 500 refugees and Venezuelans cross these irregular border crossings daily, and when they finally arrive in Chile, they are in states of dehydration, hypothermia and hungry, for having days without eating food.
Currently, there are 1.4 million migrants in Chile, which represents approximately 7% of the general population, with Venezuelans being the most predominant, followed by Peruvians, Haitians and Colombians.
