7 recommendations on the crisis in Acre
News that government authorities in the state of Acre have requested the closure of the border with Peru to control the entry of Haitians into Brazil prompted an immediate response from Conectas. The organization, which since August has been denouncing the limitations of the policy of issuing humanitarian visas and the precarious conditions at the shelter in Brasiléia, sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Chief of Staff with 7 recommendations for the interministerial meeting that will address the crisis next week.
The document points out that the overcrowding at the shelter – identified as the reason for the request to close the border – is nothing new. The federal government itself has already promised to organize a task force to improve the conditions there. The shelter, designed for 300 people, according to the Acre state government, currently holds more than 1,200 immigrants.
“The closure of the border would not only violate the human rights of the immigrants, but would also represent a major setback in the humanitarian reception announced by the Brazilian government,” reads the letter.
In addition to immediately deploying the task force, Conectas has requested the construction of an emergency shelter to reduce the risks of overcrowding, the improvement of the job selection process and the strengthening of the policy of issuing humanitarian visas.
Access here the document in full.
Invisible crisis
See the special series produced by Conectas on the situation facing Haitians in Brasiléia.
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Brazil hides humanitarian emergency in Acre
‘Refugee’ camp holds more than 800 Haitians in inhuman conditions. Conectas claims that Brazil is covering up an international crisis and must find an urgent solution within the UN and the OAS
Conectas records 20 testimonies in Brasiléia
Living in unhealthy conditions, immigrants tell of their tortuous journey from Haiti to Brazil, involving extortion, arrest, theft of money and documents, until their arrival at an overcrowded camp in Acre
See the recommendations submitted to Brazil and international bodies on the crisis
Federalization of the camp administration, visits by UN rapporteurs and immediate action by the OAS are among the measure suggested by Conectas
