By: Débora Lília dos Santos Fahur
The global humanitarian crisis reached, in 2024, a striking figure of 120 million people—men, women and children, who account for 40% of this total. Shipwrecks of boats carrying migrants from Africa and the Middle East to Europe are increasingly frequent, the result of wars, conflicts, hunger, climate disasters, and ethnic and religious persecution.
The migration crisis has forced people from different countries to move to Brazil, such as Syrians, Venezuelans, Angolans, Haitians, Ukrainians, Afghans, Palestinians, and others. According to SISMigra¹ and SISCONARE² (07/01/2024), there are more than 790 thousand people in Brazil in need of international protection, including more than 140 thousand recognized refugees, 75 thousand asylum seekers, and 10 stateless persons.
The crisis at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport has become a visible portrait of the global humanitarian crisis, directly affecting Brazilian migration policy. Initially, the flow of people from Afghanistan increased, followed by migrants from Southeast Asia—mainly India—and from the African continent, all seeking recognition of refugee status. Sadly, there was the death of the 39-year-old Ghanaian, Evans, due to a severe infection.
(Photo: Afghan refugees at Guarulhos Airport while they wait for places in reception centers – source: Estadão)
Associação CASA, which serves migrants and refugees, was called upon in 2022, when the “first crisis” at Guarulhos Airport broke out. Through the Ministry Order³, the Brazilian government issued 7,000 humanitarian visas for Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime who arrived in Brazil. Most were men, but there were also women and children, who made the airport of Brazil’s largest city their place of residence. The unsanitary conditions of housing and hygiene favored the spread of scabies. Hundreds of people were crowded onto mattresses and “tents” improvised with their own clothes.
The Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the City Halls of Guarulhos and São Paulo, in addition to international organizations such as UNHCR4 and IOM5, took joint action in response to this emergency. Civil society mobilized quickly, with a large number of volunteers who donated food, fruit, powdered milk, diapers, sanitary pads, mattresses, blankets, and other essential items.
It was in this context that an emergency meeting was convened, with the participation of the following organizations: Evangelical Alliance, Associação CASA, Como Nascidos Entre Nós, FEPAS, Rede IBAB Solidária, RENAS, International Bible Society, Tearfund and World Vision. The goal was to create a Collective of civil society organizations and evangelical Christian churches to discuss ways to help.
(Photo: Alliance volunteers welcoming Afghan refugees at Guarulhos International Airport in November 2023)
Given the complexity of the situation, it became clear that, to offer respectful reception, effective interventions, and guarantee human dignity, it was essential to know who was already involved and what was being done.
The idea of conducting a survey took shape, with the purpose of filling a gap in clear and accurate information, allowing, from it, both churches and organizations and migrants and refugees to quickly and simply access the services and assistance available.
With regard to emergency actions at Guarulhos Airport, the Collective of civil society organizations and evangelical Christian churches, among other objectives, worked to strengthen, encourage and train civil society, represented by people, organizations, churches and movements that had been developing relevant work in welcoming Afghan families in Brazil.
In those days, we witnessed an intense movement of mercy, carried out by evangelical Christian organizations and churches. It was the movement of God’s love, expressed through constant prayer, welcoming embraces, and words of hope.
With cars, vans and buses, they arrived at Cumbica Airport, taking 10, 20, 50, up to 100 people at a time. These initiatives provided decent accommodation, abundant food, Portuguese classes, recreation for children, and the support of cultural mediators, always with respect for Afghan culture. Several churches and civil society organizations joined forces, mobilizing to ensure institutional reception for these families.
That same collective actively supported, in 2022, the 6th Refugees Forum organized by Associação CASA, in which specific training was offered to churches and organizations that served Afghans, Venezuelans, Haitians, Angolans, Ukrainians, among others.
(Photo: Members of the Collective, representatives of the São Paulo Department of Social Assistance, representatives of the federal government, and UNHCR at the 6th Refugees Forum)
(Photo: Participants of the 6th Refugees Forum)
Given the significant landscape of actions in different states and with different nationalities, UNHCR4—the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—offered technical support to make possible what was called: Mapping of Evangelical Christian Organizations and Churches that work with migrants and refugees in Brazil.
The purpose of this mapping was to identify the organizations, where they are, and what they do, fostering visibility, representation, and the opportunity to promote networked action.
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing with you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:33–34
Launch of Phase 01 of the Mapping
In June 2023, we launched the results of Phase 1 of the Mapping with great joy and gratitude, identifying and recognizing a network of churches, organizations, collectives, and evangelical Christian alliances across the entire national territory. These initiatives have mobilized to provide significant assistance to people of different nationalities, reflecting God’s Kingdom in the cause of migrants and refugees.
In this first phase, 105 institutions participated: 52 churches, 39 civil society organizations, 08 alliances, networks and collectives, and 06 in other formats.
The great majority work in partnership with other organizations to provide services and assistance to the refugee and migrant population. About 1.7 thousand people, among staff and volunteers, are directly involved in the work of these institutions, offering support and assistance to this population.
The Mapping also revealed that participating institutions served individuals of at least 40 different nationalities, with emphasis on Venezuela, Afghanistan, Haiti, Syria, Angola, Colombia, and Cuba. Over the course of 2022, the institutions carried out approximately 112 thousand direct services to the refugee and migrant population, present in 18 federative units and 61 municipalities in Brazil, demonstrating the significant impact of their actions.
Launch of Phase 02 of the Mapping
The migratory scenario, both global and national, which already presented major challenges, became even more complex, arduous and conflictive in 2024. The Brazilian government enacted Order6 that introduced new rules for granting humanitarian visas to Afghan nationals. At this time, visas are suspended. In the same period, the Federal Police launched an operation to dismantle a criminal organization involved in human trafficking. (https://noticias.r7.com/brasilia/pf-deflagra-operacao-contra-organizacao-de-trafico-de-pessoas-23122024/).
The political and economic crisis in Venezuela has intensified, while several countries remain embroiled in wars and armed conflicts, such as Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, and Sudan. African nations like Nigeria and Burkina Faso also face terrorist attacks by radical groups, further aggravating instability. At the same time, the recent migration crisis in the United States anticipates the mass deportation of thousands of migrants in irregular situations and the temporary suspension of U.S. funds destined for humanitarian aid. This measure directly affects the work of bodies such as the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR4) in supporting Venezuelan migrants in states in Brazil’s North Region, such as Amazonas, and interrupts the sending of resources to institutions such as IOM5, PRM7 and USAID8.
Furthermore, climate crises have alarmingly contributed to the increase in forced displacement, with devastating effects in various regions of the planet, intensifying the vulnerability of millions of people.
In December 2024, we launched the results of Phase 2 of the Mapping and, once again, with immense joy and gratitude, we recognized the extraordinary work carried out by a true army that refuses to retreat in the face of the challenges of the migratory scenario. These groups keep their DOORS OPEN, offering WELCOME to migrants and refugees.
(Photo: Refuge Network of the Independent Presbyterian Church of São José do Rio Preto – SP displays a banner reading: “Immigrants and Refugees, feel at home among us”)
In this phase we had 103 responses, of which 88 institutions are active. The collected data show that 15 institutions stopped working on the theme, most of them churches (11), followed by 3 organizations and 1 collective. However, 21 new institutions were added to the Mapping, demonstrating that the evangelical church remains active in the cause of migrants and refugees. There are 116 thousand services provided to the refugee and migrant population, covering a wide diversity of actions, ranging from organizations and churches that welcomed a refugee family over the year to large projects that recorded thousands of services in the year.
The main nationalities served were Venezuelans (68 institutions), Afghans (42), followed by Haitians, Cubans, Syrians, and Angolans.
Networked action remains a strength, as most of the responding evangelical Christian churches and organizations (70%) reported working with other partner institutions.
(Photo: Sophia Nobre Santiago – President of Panahgah Brasil, and Sindy Nobre Santiago – Legal Advisor of Panahgah Brasil.)
We honor and pray for the people who, in different Brazilian states and cities, have dedicated themselves to this mission. May the Lord strengthen them, renew their spirit, and prosper the work of each one. We also recognize the prayer movements for migrants and refugees that continue without ceasing, believing in the miracle of loving welcome.
(Photo: Members of the Vila Minha Pátria team at the 6th Refugees Forum)
(Photo: Association of Angolans in Rio Grande do Sul)
We thank the institutions that participated in the Mapping, as well as the support of partners: the Como Nascidos Entre Nós Movement, the International Bible Society, and Tearfund, in addition to UNHCR4’s technical assistance for carrying out this project.
We invite you to visit Associação CASA’s website for the full results of the Mapping of Evangelical Christian Organizations and Churches that carry out support actions for refugees and migrants in Brazil.
And if you would like to take part in the Mapping, click here and we will get in touch.
Don’t stay out of this movement!
Caption:
- SISMIGRA – National Migration Registry System
- SISCONARE – System of the National Committee for Refugees
- Interministerial Order No. 24, of September 3, 2021
- UNHCR – United Nations Refugee Agency
- IOM – United Nations Migration Agency
- Interministerial Order, MJSP/MRE No. 42, of September 22, 2023
- PRM – Recruitment and Mobilization Posts
- USAID – United States Agency for International Development
