By Mark DaCosta- The catastrophic seismic events that struck northern Venezuela on 24 June 2026 will almost certainly trigger a substantial new wave of refugees across our western border, compounding pressures on our nation’s already strained social, economic, and administrative systems. What has been a manageable — if challenging — flow of economic migrants is poised to become an acute humanitarian emergency that will test the resilience and compassion of every Guyanese citizen.

For several years now, our country has served as a refuge for Venezuelans fleeing the collapse of their homeland. According to figures compiled by the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela, approximately 28,300 Venezuelan nationals were residing in Guyana as of February 2026.

When set against our national population of roughly 800,000, this figure represents a significant demographic imprint — particularly given that the true number is likely far higher, owing to porous borders, an inefficient paper-based registration system, and the absence of formal refugee status for Venezuelans in our jurisdiction.