A court in Ecuador has ruled that a new rule demanding that Venezuelan migrants present a valid passport upon entry into the country be delayed for 45 days. The rule, which came into effect earlier this week, was deplored by human rights activists as an unnecessary burden on Venezuelan migrants, many of whom would not have the resources to afford the document before fleeing the country.
In the ruling, the court orders Quito to review its passport policy over the next 45 days.
Ernesto Pazmiño, one of the lawyers who brought the case to the court, hailed the ruling as a “historic triumph” for human rights.
The vice minister for Human Movement, Santiago Chavez, told reporters that while the Ecuadorian government respects the judge’s ruling, it is “disappointed” by the decision.
Maduro: World is “Stealing” Venezuelan Doctors
During a televised address today, Maduro spoke on the exodus of people from the country, and suggested that countries from around the world are “stealing” Venezuelan doctors. Maduro made the comments during a public health congress.
Conceding that Venezuela “urgently” needs all kinds of doctors, Maduro added that the reason why there is a shortage of medical professionals in the country is:
… because they are being stolen from abroad.
While accurate migration figures are difficult to estimate, the United Nations believes that more than 1.6 million Venezuelans have fled the country in search of better lives elsewhere since 2015, and that a total of 2.3 million live abroad. The exodus, according to one expert, is the worst that Latin America has seen in 50 years.
Despite being highly trained and skilled professionals, Venezuelan doctors earn anywhere between $59 to $297 per month. They are also forced to work in deplorable conditions, often without even the most basic tools required to conduct their duties.
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