“Is this really an apple?”

It is surprising to hear stories of Venezuelan migrant children that haven’t eaten an apple for years or never saw one before.

Dylan Parra takes one of the apples that came inside the food kit. Photo: WFP/Paola Solís.

I’ve eaten apples all my life. I’ve always seen it in supermarkets and stores the whole year. In fact, the apple is the second most produced fruit in the world after the banana. It is a symbol of abundance and is often associated with healthy eating and good health.

Because of that I was surprised when I’ve heard the stories about the Venezuelan migrant children that haven’t eaten an apple for years, or never eaten an apple before until receiving from the hands of World Food Programme and Adventist Development and Relief Agency employees.

Kamila and Matías Flores wait with their mother Anyeliz Figueroa to receive their food kit before continuing to Peru. Three apples are hidden inside this bag, the favorite food for children who arrive at this WFP and ADRA distribution point in Rumichaca. Photo: WFP/Paola Solís.

Border, cold and hunger

According to Ecuadorian authorities, 806.000 Venezuelans entered the country in 2018, mainly by the border crossing of Rumichaca, between Colombia and Ecuador, that is more than 2,900 meters high in the Andes mountain range.

After crossing Colombia by feet or transport, the migrants arrive exhausted, some without winter clothes in their suitcases. Adults and children must endure both temperatures of 5 degrees as hunger.

Dylan and his sister Laniham Parra Cuevas enjoy apples in the company of their grandmother R. de Mosquera. Photos: WFP/Paola Solís.

“When the kids open the package, what most attracts their attention are the apples because they have not tasted them for a long time or there are children of two or three years who had never seen them”, tells Verónica Proaño, ADRA employee.

They had only seen them in drawings

The reactions of the children when they receive the apples also surprised Inés López, WFP staff with 12 years of work in the border.

Inés López from WFP (left) and Verónica Proaño from ADRA say that migrants are relieved to receive the food kit that contains apples and other foods to be consumed on their way to the border with Peru. Photos: WFP/Paola Solís and Elio Rujano.

“The children only have seen them in notebooks, drawings or books” said Inés. “When they had them in their hands they exclaimed: “is this really an apple?” They have never tried an apple. For them it was delicacy, a satisfaction to have an apple”, completed Inés.

Their mothers told that it had been years since their haven’t tried because the produce price have increased due the inflation the country experienced and they could not pay for them.

Seeing their happy, satisfied faces is something that does not have a price for Verónica from ADRA. “Seeing the faces of gratitude from the moms and dads because their children have what to eat after such long trip is a experience we will remember for our whole lives” said Verónica.

Night falls, it has rained and it is cold, but Cindy López from WFP and Verónica from ADRA (behind) deliver a food kit — with their apples — to a family. WFP and ADRA distribute the food 24/7 very close to the old house of Customs of Ecuador (in the background).

Translation by Rafael Tarasantchi.

Learn more about WFP’s response to the migrant crisis.