Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has suspended the issuing of temporary visas to Venezuelan refugees in an effort to slow down the surge of people seeking safety in the neighbouring country. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has forced over half a million of its citizens into Colombia over the past 2 years, and pressure mounts on the country as the cost of supporting the migrants takes its toll.

The suspension of temporary visas accompanied with an increase in soldiers manning the border has reportedly halved the number of people crossing into Colombia. In early December, the number of migrants reached 90,000 per day. This is the official amount, however, and some say that these new measures have only increased the number of people crossing illegally. This increases the risk of Venezuelans becoming the victims of crime and the target of illegal armed groups who man these unofficial border crossings.

President Nicolas Maduro’s mismanagement of the Venezuelan economy has led to an expected inflation rate of 13,000% this year, according to the IMF. Food has run out, people are starving and children are dying of malnutrition. Parents are leaving their children at orphanages around the country in record numbers in the hope that they can be given three meals a day. Hospitals have run out of medical supplies and access to medical help is severely limited.

Maduro’s government has become increasingly authoritarian, with those who speak out against him being arrested and sent to prison. Maduro has banned or jailed popular political candidates, which has left the opposition in a weak position. The next election will be held sometime before April, and political activists are calling for it to be boycotted, as participation would legitimize the actions of the government.

The number of people fleeing Venezuela has become one of the largest migration crises Latin America has seen in decades. The numbers are comparable to the exodus from Syria in 2015, and the Rohingya’s last year. The Venezuelans are desperate and many come to Colombia with nothing. Some Colombians are taking advantage of the crisis, but most are negatively impacted by the influx of foreigners.

Colombian President Santos has called for international assistance in order to continue to support those who seek refuge in his country saying, “Any help will be welcome”. Supporting over half a million hungry and desperate people, in a country that has only recently mended its own civil conflict, is not an easy – or cheap – task. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed the support of the United Nations “to the government and people of Colombia in this humanitarian effort…” He also declared his willingness to “mobilize international help” if required. Santos has said that the Colombian government has spent millions in supporting the Venezuelans as a result of the crisis.

The implications of this Venezuelan crisis stretch much further than its borders. We saw from Syria just how far the impact reaches, as Europe continues to deal with the consequences of 1 million refugee applications. The sudden influx of people to Colombia is unsustainable and places a burden on the Colombian economy. Colombia is dealing with the crisis in the best way it can, and this is aided by the welcoming attitude of the President. We can only hope that South America will continue to have a positive response and that we don’t see the beginning of regional tension with neighbouring countries tightening their borders and animosity between the states growing.