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Colombia has taken a radical step to grant legal immigration status for up to 10 years to nearly one million undocumented Venezuelans already living in the country.
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This will allow migrants toe work legally, as well as access, health care and other essential services.
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Est iniciativa s own extraordinary um Westra Do Morita compromiso condos Derechos humanos e pragmatism.
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This'd is, ah, big move in the context of recent migrant crisis.
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Aside from Syria, Venezuela's political and economic turmoil has prompted the biggest displacement of people in recent years.
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The Organization of American States expects this number to rise to seven million this year.
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Colombia has absorbed nearly 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants so far.
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That's around 3.7% of Colombia's population.
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Another three million are in other countries in the region.
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This makes Colombia one of the biggest hosts off migrants around the world.
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The Colombian government had hoped to receive more financial aid from the international community.
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So far, this has not happened.
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The world has seen about more than six million Syrians who have fled their homes.
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In the case of Venezuelans, that number is probably bigger as of today than five million, so the numbers are quite similar, but when it comes to funding, there is a huge disparity on when we compute in terms off each refugee, how much the international community has assisted the hosting communities.
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In the case of Syria, we find $3000 per Syrian refugee given by the international community.
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In the case of Venezuelan refugees, the number is less than $800.
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The Colombian move has been applauded abroad, but many Colombians strongly oppose it.
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They feel that the country cannot afford to take in so many immigrants.
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Colombia already faces domestic issues.
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It is far from wealthy and has struggled with decades of armed conflict and sky high unemployment.
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The Colombian government is hoping that despite rising intolerance, the integration of Venezuela's will become easier now that they have legal status.
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It is a risky experiment, but if it succeeds, it might be able to present lessons to be learned far beyond Colombia's borders.