Brazil steps up program to help Venezuelan migrants resettle

Brazil has intensified efforts to support Venezuelan migrants through a nationwide program that provides free courses and resettlement assistance, as thousands continue to flee to Brazil.

Over the past decade, more than 1.4 million Venezuelans have entered Brazil, with more than 70 percent crossing through Roraima, a state with limited capacity to absorb large numbers of newcomers. In the first 20 days of this year alone, over 5,000 Venezuelans arrived in Brazil.

To ease the strain on Roraima, the "Operation Welcome" relocates vulnerable migrants to other cities in a voluntary, safe, and orderly manner. At coordination and education centers, Venezuelans can take free courses to boost employment prospects, while those with family or jobs elsewhere receive travel documents to continue their journey.

Among the Venezuelans seeking a new life is Ana del Valle, who plans to head south and credits the program with supporting her family.

"They have given us so much support. They have always been attentive to our needs. Truly, they are exceptional. I am so grateful. I hope I can find work soon to provide a good education for my children and improve our quality of life," she said.

Not all migrants rely on government assistance. At the bus terminal in the border city of Pacaraima, ticket agents said many Venezuelans with greater financial means purchase tickets directly to southeastern and southern states in Brazil, where job opportunities are more abundant.

"My final destination is Florianopolis, the capital of Santa Catarina state. I was told it's very safe. When I arrive, I'm going to look for a job there. I have a cousin there," said Josue Marca, another Venezuelan migrant.

Although arrivals have slowed compared with previous years, Brazilian experts say the decline is temporary. As long as Venezuelans face shortages of food, medicine and public services, migration into Brazil is expected to continue.

Brazil steps up program to help Venezuelan migrants resettle

Brazil steps up program to help Venezuelan migrants resettle

Brazil steps up program to help Venezuelan migrants resettle

Russia said on Tuesday that it had taken control of two more settlements from Ukraine, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported repelling Russian offensives on multiple fronts.

Russia's Defense Ministry said in its latest report that over the past 24 hours, its forces captured the key logistics hub of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, and the village of Novoyakovlivka in southeast of the city of Zaporizhzhia.

The Russian forces also carried out strikes on 154 targets using tactical aircraft, attack drones, missile forces and artillery, and these targets included Ukraine's energy infrastructure as well as storage and launch sites for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said in a situation report that as of 08:00 Tuesday, it had carried out strikes on Russian drone control stations, multiple rocket launch systems and command posts over the past day.

The Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in several directions, including Kupiansk and Lyman, the report said.

Furthermore, Ukraine's local authorities and the country's energy ministry said on Tuesday that the Russian forces launched air strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure from late Monday night to early Tuesday morning.

The attacks left dozens of people injured in Odesa city and Mykolaiv Oblast, and triggered power outages in multiple areas, the Ukrainian side said.

Russia captures two more settlements from Ukraine, while Ukraine repels Russian offensives on multiple fronts