Migrants Stranded at Brazilian Airport: No Food, Water, or Basic Necessities

For several weeks now, hundreds of migrants from India, Nepal, and Vietnam have been marooned at São Paulo’s international airport under dire conditions. According to the Public Defender’s Office and documents reviewed by Reuters, these individuals are forced to sleep on the floor as they wait for entry into Brazil.

A spokesperson from the Public Defender’s Office revealed that a 39-year-old migrant from Ghana passed away two weeks ago under mysterious circumstances. It remains unclear whether his death occurred at the airport or while being transported to a hospital.

Currently, around 666 migrants, who lack visas, are awaiting entry at Guarulhos Airport. The situation is expected to worsen as Brazil plans to impose stricter entry regulations starting Monday. These new rules aim to curb the increasing number of foreigners using Brazil as a transit point to reach the United States and Canada.

The migrants are confined to a restricted area where they cannot access showers, and their limited mobility makes it difficult to obtain essential resources like food and water. Children and teenagers are enduring the winter cold without adequate blankets.

The Public Defender’s Office has expressed grave concerns about the human rights violations and the deteriorating health conditions of these migrants. They have called for immediate improvements in the conditions and urged authorities to comply with Brazil’s humanitarian principles, which emphasize accepting refugees rather than deporting them.

From Monday onwards, Brazil’s public security ministry will enforce new regulations requiring foreign travelers without Brazilian visas to either continue directly to their destination or return to their home countries. The ministry has cited an increase in foreign travelers, particularly from Asia, who use Brazil as a stopover en route to North America.

Many of these travelers apply for refugee status upon arrival, claiming threats and persecution in their home countries. However, it is reported that most of them attempt to continue their journey northwards as soon as they can.

Under the new rules, passengers arriving in São Paulo without a visa will be barred from staying in Brazil. It remains uncertain whether these regulations will impact the migrants already at the São Paulo airport or only those arriving after the new rules come into effect.

Experts in immigration law have raised concerns that the proposed regulations might conflict with the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which Brazil has signed. This convention obligates countries to offer asylum to individuals fleeing persecution, even if they do not have proper documentation.

Jean Uema, head of Brazil’s refugee committee, has indicated that the new rules will specifically target São Paulo Airport and that Brazil’s overall policy on asylum seekers will not change.

News by Hindi Patrika