The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented a special assistance plan aimed at Chileans who are traveling to Brazil to attend the 28th World Youth Day (JMJ), to be held next 22 and 29 July in Rio de Janeiro and which is led by Pope Francis.
Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno said that in order to assist "in the best way the possible requirements and enquiries of nearly 9 thousand fellow nationals registered to attend the event, the team at the Consulate General in Rio was reinforced with officials of the Foreign Ministry who traveled from Santiago to be in charge of this task." He also highlighted the establishment of a "remote consulate" in Petropolis during the Missionary Week which was attended by nearly 900 Chileans.
Additionally, Minister Moreno said that a coordination program has been developed between the consulates in Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Asuncion and Montevideo, which are on the land route to Rio de Janeiro, in order to assist, if necessary, Chileans traveling by land to Brazil.
Another measure implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to extend the working hours at the consulates in Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo. Likewise, a phone assistance system will be established that will operate 24 hours to assist in case of emergency.
Minister Moreno said: "This assistance plan has been developed by the General Consular Directorate of the Foreign Ministry, our Embassy in Brasilia and the Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, in close coordination with the Episcopal Conference of Chile, the Archbishopric of Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian authorities, which has allowed us to manage data and information about Chileans who have traveled and continue arriving in Brazil. He then added, "This close contact will be maintained during the event so as to assist any requirement or emergency that may arise."
The Chilean Ambassador to Brazil, Fernando Schmidt, said that every effort is being made to assist in the best way our fellow nationals. "We are working in a coordinated network from Santiago, the Embassy and all the consulates involved in this event. "It will be a kind of rehearsal for the World Cup and the Olympic Games," he said. The diplomat highlighted the participation of volunteers in these tasks. "We are working to make fellow nationals feel at home," he said.