Dozens of Venezuelan migrants busily search for a bus ticket at Bogotá’s largest transport terminal to Cúcuta, La Guajira and Arauca, border regions with Venezuela, to arrive in their country on time for the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Miriam Vegas, a Venezuelan who is waiting for the departure of her route, told the voice of america that he is thinking that this is his last trip back to his country, where he plans to return to settle.
“We are heading towards Cúcuta, everything we carry in our suitcases are gifts for our families. We had been here in Bogotá for five years and I think the time has come to see if things work again in Venezuela,” he said.
Like Miriam, there are many Venezuelans who count the hours to see their loved ones again and start a new life in their country.
“We go with the reason to stay, but if we see that things are hard there, it’s time to return again,” he told the VOA Venezuelan Carlos Araque.
However, the dream of being reunited with his loved ones for the Venezuelan Leonel Madueño seems to be far away. He arrived at the bus terminal hoping to get the tickets, but the high prices have prevented him from making the 15-hour trip to Cúcuta, the last stop before his final destination.
“The fares are very high, 200,000 pesos (42 dollars) they are charging. When my brother left a week ago, they cost 100. You can’t spend Christmas with his family because fares are too high. We are four people, but it is impossible to travel. We ask for a discount, but they tell us no because they are in the Christmas season, ”he said.
For destinations such as Arauca, Cúcuta and La Guajira, according to figures from the transport terminal, 50% of the users are Venezuelan citizens.
Migration Colombia has not provided official figures on the departure of Venezuelans bound for their country for this New Year’s Eve.
“I’m going to visit my family, I haven’t seen them for more than a year,” he told the VOA Mirbyan de González, Venezuelan. She said that her purpose was not to stay in Colombia, but she liked it. “In Venezuela I have my mother, my brothers and here my daughters and granddaughters. That is what encourages me to go and return,” she said.
Yessy Gonzalez, a Venezuelan who has lived in the city of Armenia, in the Colombian coffee region for four years, said that she has not seen her family for two years. “It was time to meet them again. It’s a round trip. In January I hope to be back in Colombia,” she concluded.
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