Operation Acolhida: Peace, health, and communication in the Venezuelan immigrants’ and refugees’ contexts in Brazil: Grassroots report

Introduction: Operation Acolhida is a pioneering humanitarian initiative in Brazil, bringing together efforts from multiple institutions to assist in the settlement process of Venezuelan refugees. The Operation is a compassionate response organized by the Brazilian government to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The objective of this report is to provide a detailed and well-grounded account of the experiences of Venezuelan immigrants and refugees in Brazil, highlighting the challenges they face, and the strategies implemented for their integration. Methods: An analytical summary of 6 months, of fieldwork experiences supported by a brief review of official documents, and reports from non-governmental organizations. A contextualized analysis of the implemented strategies and resulting outcomes are highlighted to inspire researchers and professionals interested in the intersection of migration settlement actions, population public health, and health communication for individual and collective peace. Results: Operation Acolhida uncovered the synergy among many social and health-related professionals providing essential health services and promoting social and cultural integration as key elements for building lasting community peace. The Operation also tackles the challenge of combating the spread of false news that could lead to xenophobia and stigma against refugees. Effective mass communication was a cornerstone of Operation Acolhida disseminating correct and transparent information and promoting a narrative of empathy and cooperation among Brazilian host communities and Venezuelans. Conclusion: The interrelation between peace and health was undeniable. A peaceful social environment was critical for the maintenance of public health. For that, wide collaboration ensured to the host society’s health robustness contributing thus to collective stability and peace. The presented insights in this grassroots report contribute to the understanding and replication of effective practices in similar humanitarian initiatives globally.