Migrants try to forcefully cross the border between Peru and Chile, reports Peruvian state television

(CNN Spanish) –– Several migrants tried to cross the border between Chile and Peru this Thursday, according to a report by the state channel TV Peru.

The images show the migrants running through the desert area that divides both countries, and the Police trying to contain them to return them to the control point.

CNN has contacted Peru’s Ministry of the Interior for more details.

The incidents come a day after Peruvian security authorities announced that they would send a contingent of 200 police officers to patrol the border area.

This Wednesday, President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency on the borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Chile. Citing Peruvian press reports, Boluarte said that the government of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski had allowed “free entry” through the north of the country “to all those citizens who wanted to enter. At that time, 800,000 Venezuelans entered, as many Haitians, and they are the ones who, unfortunately, are committing these criminal acts.”

Boluarte did not present evidence on the alleged link between migrants and the increase in crime in his country. CNN has asked the Peruvian government for statistics that reflect this relationship, but so far we have not received a response.

For several days there have been attempts to blockades by migrants stranded on the highway that connects the two countries.

Asked about the issue in an interview with Radio Infinita, the Chilean Foreign Minister, Alberto Van Klaveren, stated that the migratory flow “is too massive” and that the perception of the population is that they are “overwhelmed.”

Regarding the possibility of opening a humanitarian corridor for migrants who want to reach Chile, he said that it was a possibility, but that several measures are required.

The spokesman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Peru, Matteo Mandrile, informed CNN that as of April 26, 150 refugees and migrants remained stranded on the border between Chile and Peru, although peaks of up to 250 people were recorded. in that situation.

In the city of Tacna, Peru, Venezuelan, Haitian and, to a lesser extent, Colombian refugees and migrants predominate, according to the IOM, which states that it increased its assistance in the area by 134%.

The OIM observes a northbound traffic. People currently at the border want to be allowed to continue their journey to their destination.

In this sense, Mandrile expressed his concern about the amount of population that is stranded in the area, “without any type of protection”, and how this situation affects minors, since, by leaving them helpless or at the border line , “they are at increased risk of violence, abuse and exploitation”.

According to the IOM, most migrants mention intending to reach Venezuela (70%) or Mexico/United States (in 11% of cases) or other destinations outside of Peru. Only 5% say they want to stay in Peru.

“At IOM we are convinced that a safe, orderly and regular migration will always be beneficial for everyone. For this reason, we believe that measures such as the amnesty of fines for foreigners are on the right path to facilitate the regularization of refugees and migrants in the country,” said Mandrile.

With information from Jimena de la Quintana and Cristopher Ulloa.