(CNN Spanish) -
Authorities in a region of northern Chile expressed their concern about the considerable increase in the migratory flow, especially of Venezuelan citizens.
The regional Ministerial Secretary of Health of Tarapacá, Manuel Fernández, said on Tuesday that as a result of immigration, "strong stress" is reported in the system of health residences and temporary stays.
According to the Ministry of Health, these facilities are used for the temporary isolation of people with mild or very mild symptoms of covid-19 and who have nowhere to carry out an effective quarantine because they live in confined spaces and can put their environment at risk. .
Fernández indicated that the increase in the flow of immigrants that has been observed since the beginning of 2021 comes from neighboring Bolivia.
The governor of the province of Tamarugal, Fernando Chiffelle Ruff, reported that 500 people who entered the town of Colchane irregularly were transferred in nine buses to shelters in Iquique.
The day before, another 124 people had been transferred.
Neither Governor Chiffele Ruff nor the regional secretary of the Ministry of Health provided details on how many of these people are of Venezuelan nationality.
Venezuelan immigrants