Crisis of the humanitarian system in Chile. Colombian refugees delegitimized on the northern border

Abstract

In 2007, the Refugee Program in Iquique is installed due to the increased numbers of applications in the region of Tarapaca. In 2010, the Refugee Act is launched in Chile, nonetheless, thereafter; both applications for refugee status and concessions for protection begin to decrease, reaching a derisory figure in 2012. Given the participation of the authors in the Refugee Program and a participatory diagnostic with refugee women applicants, it has been elucidated some aspects about the process. It is identified that in the region there is a "pre admissibility" instance, preliminary to the refugee application process. The irregular entrance of the refugees is a determining reason for inadmissibility status to the process. The main factor that tends to the irregular entrance is the denial of the entry to Chile. As a result, people not admitted in the process, choose for staying illegally/clandestine in the country. Whom that are recognized as requestors or refugees, stay subjects to the demobilized assistance of the international humanitary system or to the lack of awareness toward the refugee status by the key institutions and comunity in general, situation that results in discrimination and racism. So, we wonder ¿why is it produced that delegitimization of refugees in Iquique? ¿what are the reasons that the colombian womens had to stay in a place where they are abused and humiliated? ¿in which way are related refugees and inmigrants in this context? An analysis of the crisis of the internacional humanitary system will help us to answer these questions.