Venezuelans in Peru take Maduro's offer to fly home

Around 100 Venezuelan migrants in Peru flew back to their home country on Monday, taking part in an initiative proposed by Caracas to mitigate the effects of mass immigration. Over 1.6 million people have left Venezuela since the country's economy started its downward spiral in 2015.

Many of the migrants traveling home on Monday complained of xenophobia against Venezuelans as Peru and other countries in the region cope with the influx.

"I'm going to look for a job," 42-year-old Miguel Materano told the AFP news agency. "The government has promised that it will help us."

Read more: Displaced Venezuelans fear for their lives in Brazil

The group of 97 migrants, including 22 children and four pregnant women, was initially put up in a Lima hotel near the Venezuelan embassy, where they received food and medical care, according to a Caracas representative. They later flew for Caracas at the expense of Venezuelan government.

Thousands leave daily

The free flight home and the job assistance are a part of the "Return to Homeland" program announced by the socialist President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

Read more: One-legged Venezuela man crosses South America on foot

"Venezuelans won't be slaves to anyone in the world!" he proclaimed, describing the exodus as another ploy of his political opponents to weaken his government.

Read more: Brazil vows to keep Venezuela border open despite tensions

As economic crisis in Venezuela continues, around 4,000 people leave the country every day to cross into Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Migration officials from the four nations are due to meet in Bogota later this week to decide on a regional response.

dj/bw (AP, AFP)