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Country analysis

Peru


Peru is the second-largest host country for Venezuelan asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants both as a destination country and as a transit country to the south. As at December 2022, 1,286,000 Venezuelans were in the country, of whom around 530,000 were asylum seekers. The majority enter via Tumbes city, along the border with Ecuador, and head to Arequipa, Callao, Ica, La Libertad, and Lima regions.

The economic effects of COVID-19 continue to affect the access of Venezuelan migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees to livelihoods. A lack of access to documentation, despite the Temporary Permit to Stay and Humanitarian Residence Permit programmes, also restricts access to livelihoods, public services, and healthcare.

Peru is vulnerable to natural disasters, including heavy rains during the rainy season (normally running from December or January to March) and earthquakes. Flooding and landslides regularly damage infrastructure and agricultural land, driving shelter, food, health, and WASH needs in the country.

(R4V 13/01/2023, R4V 06/12/2022,

Ministerio de ambiente de Perú 28/10/2022, Infobae 31/12/2022, Salud con Lupa 02/01/2023)

Peru is the second-largest host country for Venezuelan asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants both as a destination country and as a transit country to the south. As at December 2022, 1,286,000 Venezuelans were in the country, of whom around 530,000 were asylum seekers. The majority enter via Tumbes city, along the border with Ecuador, and head to Arequipa, Callao, Ica, La Libertad, and Lima regions.

The economic effects of COVID-19 continue to affect the access of Venezuelan migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees to livelihoods. A lack of access to documentation, despite the Temporary Permit to Stay and Humanitarian Residence Permit programmes, also restricts access to livelihoods, public services, and healthcare.

Peru is vulnerable to natural disasters, including heavy rains during the rainy season (normally running from December or January to March) and earthquakes. Flooding and landslides regularly damage infrastructure and agricultural land, driving shelter, food, health, and WASH needs in the country.

(R4V 13/01/2023, R4V 06/12/2022,

Ministerio de ambiente de Perú 28/10/2022, Infobae 31/12/2022, Salud con Lupa 02/01/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

03 May 2023

Since early March 2023, heavy rains resulting from the El Niño coastal phenomenon have resulted in flooding and landslides in the northern coastal areas and city of Lima in Peru. As at 3 May, the rains had affected more than 520,000 people and destroyed almost 30,000 homes, with numbers expected to rise in the coming days. Current climate predictions forecast heavy rains in the next few weeks, which could affect the emergency response and increase levels of need. The main needs are food, access to safe water, sanitation, health services (especially to prevent vector-borne diseases), protection, and livelihoods. Damage to schools has left at least 95,000 children and adolescents without access to education. The affected area also includes a transit area for Venezuelans travelling to Ecuador, but the number of Venezuelans affected remains unknown. Damage to roads and bridges is restricting humanitarian access to some areas. (OCHA 03/05/2023, AECID 03/05/2023, EuroesEuro 06/05/2023).

08 April 2023

Heavy rains since early March and the passage of Cyclone Yaku have caused flooding and landslides in Peru, especially in the northern coastal area and Lima city.


As at 6 April, some 241,000 people have been affected and at least 95,000 homes and 275 health centres have been damaged or destroyed. Although the number of Venezuelans affected is unknown, Tumbes, the main entry point for Venezuelans travelling from Ecuador was affected by the floods. Urgent humanitarian needs include access to safe drinking water and the repair of water distribution systems, as there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases and malaria. 63,000 hectares of crops have been affected or lost. Some roads have been damaged, so access to the north is restricted.

(UNICEF 08/04/2023, Infobae accessed 11/04/2023)

current crises
in Peru


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

PER002 - Venezuelan refugees

Last updated 30/08/2023


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3 Medium

Access constraints

3.0

REG002 - Venezuela Regional Crisis

Last updated 17/05/2023


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.9 High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Peru

Peru: Earthquake in the Amazon region

16 December 2021

Peru: Earthquake in the Amazon region

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

On 28 November 2021, an earthquake occurred in the district of Barranca, Datem del Marañón province, department of Loreto. Over 5,100 houses, 518 schools, and 71 hospitals were affected. The earthquake has destroyed several roads and caused the Utcubamba River to overflow. 

Natual hazards
Peru: Influx of Venezuelans in Tumbes

25 June 2019

Peru: Influx of Venezuelans in Tumbes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 434 KB

Arrivals of Venezuelan refugees and migrants via Ecuador at Peru’s northern border at Tumbes saw a significant increase at the beginning of June in the lead up to new and stricter entry requirements. Between 8 and 15 June, some 34,000 people arrived at the border, causing long backlogs in processing and adding pressure on humanitarian assistance. 

Mixed migration
Peru: floods

22 March 2017

Peru: floods

DOCUMENT / PDF / 340 KB

Since December 2016, above-average rains have caused flooding and landslides in 24 of the 25 regions of Peru. Over 99,000 people have suffered losses and over 600,000 people have been affected. 12 regions have declared a state of emergency. Piura and Lambayeque in the northwest, and Ica and Arequipa in the southwest are most affected. 

Natual hazards
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