BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil’s government will declare an emergency in its northern border state of Roraima to boost funding and troops to help control an influx of Venezuelan refugees into the country, Defence Minister Raul Jungmann said yesterday.
Thousands of Venezuelans escaping economic crisis in the Andean country have crossed the border with Brazil in recent months. The local government said Venezuelan arrivals represent 10 percent of the population of Roraima’s capital, Boa Vista, or around 40,000 people, straining public services.
According to Jungmann, the armed forces will double troop numbers in the state, set up a field hospital and create a screening centrr for Venezuelans.
Brazilian President Michel Temer flew to Boa Vista on Monday for meetings with local authorities to assess the situation.
