Number of refugees in Brazil tripled in 2013

Criado em 09/01/14 11h11 e atualizado em 09/01/14 11h14
Por Carolina Sarres Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – The National Committee for Refugees (Conare) reported that the number of refugees in Brazil more than tripled between 2012 and 2013, the Ministry of Justice announced Wednesday (Jan. 8).

Last year, 649 foreigners were granted refugee status in the country, as against 199 in 2012. Out of this total, 283 were Syrian civil war refugees, accounting for 43.6%. Others include nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (106), Colombia (87), Pakistan (32), Angola (17), Bolivia (16) and Venezuela (6).

All countries with a high number of applicants – both for Brazil and other destination countries – were found to have a background of political, ethnic conflicts and widespread violence. They are mostly developing or relatively low-development countries – especially in Africa.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the Brazilian government received a total 5,200 refugee applications in 2013, exceeding the 2,100 received in 2012. But under Brazilian law, applications can only be granted in cases of justifiable fear of persecution based on race, religious belief, nationality, social group, or political opinion.

Edited by Juliana Andrade / Nira Foster
Translated by Mayra Borges