According to a January 2019 article from Foreign Policy, over 1.3 million Venezuelans are estimated to be living in Colombia. The Venezuelans that migrate into Colombia and other countries come from diverse backgrounds and economic circumstances, but they often share some needs in common. For instance, many do not have a stable job to depend on when they arrive to a new country, a place to stay in or family or friends who can help them adjust back to normal life. This means that the Venezuelan migrants arrive at their new homes in vulnerable positions. If they don't find work and lodging quickly, they can face poverty, hunger and homelessness. Some migrants even travel with their families, including young children, making the reality of subsisting in a new country that much more difficult.
In Venezuela, a bad economy and political troubles have made it difficult for many citizens to afford or access basic needs, such as food and healthcare. As the situation has gotten worse over the past several years, desperate Venezuelans have begun to leave their country to find a better life elsewhere or even to escape the impossibility of survival in Venezuela. Since Colombia is a neighboring country to Venezuela, with a long history of migration from either side of the border, it has become one of the largest destination points for Venezuelan migrants trying to leave Venezuela. The influx of migrants into Colombia, however, has put pressure on the state to provide resources and support.
