Venezuelan migrants in Chile ask for help in returning home

Nearly 300 Venezuelans living in Chile have been camping outside the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago for more than a week, asking authorities to facilitate their return home.

Many people in Chile have lost their jobs, including Venezuelan migrants, as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, leaving them without means to pay for housing or other basic needs.

Some of them did not even have tents to protect them from the elements at night, and were forced to sleep on the floor.

"We want to leave because we don't have jobs," said Jana Villa on Tuesday.

The migrants pitched tents in close proximity as they camped outside the embassy hoping that the government would somehow provide them a way to return to their homeland.

Among them were young children and elderly people, and many others with their belongings in suitcases and bags.

The same scene took place a few days ago with Bolivian nationals, prompting the Chilean Foreign Ministry to arrange to have them transported to northern Chile for 14 days of quarantine before continuing their journey to Bolivia.