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 More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled an economic and political
crisis in their home country that has caused widespread shortages of
food and medicine.
Health officials from the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama,
Canada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Peru and Paraguay
unanimously approved the measure in a meeting in the Colombian
border city of Cucuta.
The vaccination card will "accompany migrants from the middle of
October and have the support of international agencies for its
printing, distribution and training for its use," Colombian Health
Minister Juan Pablo Uribe told journalists.
"The unified card shows that our countries can work together," Uribe
added.
The health officials, including U.S. Secretary of Health and Human
Services Alex Azar, also agreed to prioritize efforts to reduce
infection rates and treat malaria and HIV/AIDS, care for migrants
with chronic conditions like diabetes and cancer, and help migrants
in need of mental health care.
The officials visited a Cucuta hospital where more than 70% of
births are to Venezuelan mothers, one of the bridges that marks the
border between Colombia and Venezuela, and a migrant cafeteria run
by the Catholic Church.
"Addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by the failed Maduro
regime is a top humanitarian priority for President Trump and his
administration," Azar said, referring to embattled Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro.
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Azar said the U.S. government has given Latin American countries
some $256 million in humanitarian and development aid in response to
the crisis.
"All of these countries are working together with the Guaido
government to prepare for the day when freedom comes to Venezuela,"
he added, referencing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who
is recognized by more than 50 countries as his country's legitimate
leader.
Guaido invoked the constitution in January to assume a rival
presidency, saying Maduro's 2018 re-election was fraudulent. Maduro
alleges that Guaido is a puppet of the United States.
Unlike its neighbors, Colombia has not put in place stringent
immigration requirements for Venezuelan migrants, instead
encouraging those who entered the country informally to register
with authorities so they can access healthcare, school places and
other social services.
Colombia is home to some 1.4 million Venezuelans. Hundreds of
thousands of others reside in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil and other
countries.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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