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Colombia's 'historic act' to protect migrants

Colombia is to give protected status to almost one million undocumented Venezuelan migrants resident in the country, President Ivan Duque said. The protection will last 10 years and will allow them to "normalise" into life in Colombia, Mr Duque added.

The United Nations says more than five million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, with Colombia taking in the greatest share. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised the decision as a "historic, generous act." Journalist Catalina Lobo-Guerrero in Bogota describes what this will mean.

(Picture: Colombian President Ivan Duque at the press conference announcing this decision, 8th February 2021. Credit: Reuters)

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4 minutes