MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Maduro's government keeps flying voluntary refugees back to Venezuela

A total 79 flights have been carried out since the beginning of the emergency plan

Return to the Fatherland flights for migrants who want to return to Venezuela will resume Tuesday and Wednesday, the Nicolás Maduro administration announced.

 A total 79 flights have been carried out since the beginning of the emergency plan, mainly 34 from Ecuador and 32 from Peru, bringing back around 15,200 nationals to the oil-rich Caribbean nation.

About 50,766 Venezuelans have registered voluntarily for their next repatriation, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry reported.

To make troubles worse for Venezuelan refugees, citizens of that country travelling into Ecuador will be required a visa as of August 26, although those already in and who wish to stay may apply for an amnesty, on condition that they have not violated the law during their stay.

Other South American countries such as Chile have implemented a similar visa requirement, which adds to the hardships of Venezuelan refugees trying to find a new home.

Ecuadorean President Lenín Moreno announced last week the new measures and explained that there will be a 90-day amnesty, which expires Oct. 26. for which only Venezuelans who have entered regularly, through the points of immigration control to the territory of Ecuador, may apply.

Moreno's decision is the result of a report on the Venezuelan migration crisis produced by the Foreign Ministry, which shows the expenditures on health, education, security, and inclusion.

According to Venezuelan data, about 7,285 people have returned from Brazil, 3,101 from Peru, 3,067 from Ecuador, 764 from Colombia, 276 from the Dominican Republic, 434 from Argentina, 272 from Chile, one from Panama and one from Uruguay through the Return to the Fatherland programme, which has been carried out 69 percent by land and 31 percent by air.