The UNHCR High Commissioner expressed hope that the political transition in Venezuela could facilitate the return of migrants, emphasizing that many wish to return home under conditions of safety, dignity, and peace, with a process of national reconciliation.
In statements to the Spanish news agency EFE, at the end of his two-day visit to the country, Salih mentioned that although many people who fled the country long for a return, the process is only the beginning and much work remains to be done to ensure the safe reintegration of these individuals into society.
He emphasized that the appropriate environment for the return of Venezuelans who left the country can be created through peace, inclusion, and national reconciliation, given that the country has faced considerable challenges over the years.
Data provided by the R4V Platform, a network composed of over 200 entities, including UN agencies and civil society, indicates that approximately 6.9 million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years. This platform coordinates the humanitarian response and the integration of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in 17 Latin American and Caribbean nations, under the leadership of UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration.
The High Commissioner stated that he is collaborating with the Government and other agencies to promote voluntary returns, in addition to working with regional authorities to assist Venezuelans who have recently migrated.
During his visit, Salih met on Friday with Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other authorities to discuss the issue of migrant return and reintegration, the consequences of earthquakes, and a new cycle of cooperation.
Salih's delegation was accompanied by Isabel Márquez, UNHCR Regional Director for the Americas, and Álvaro Rodríguez, United Nations Resident Coordinator. The meeting was also attended by the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Félix Plasencia, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oliver Blanco, and the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Joaquín Pérez.
It should be noted that the UNHCR representative had previously met with Plasencia at the end of September during the UN General Assembly, when both reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening mutual cooperation, as communicated by the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Salih's visit occurs in a context of Venezuela's opening to international organizations, following the detention of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States in Caracas on January 3.