Thousands of Venezuelans have rushed to cross into Peru in a bid to beat the introduction of tougher migration laws.

Under new laws introduced, Venezuelans need to have a passport and visa to enter Peru. Authorities say about 6,000 Venezuelans crossed from neighbouring Ecuador alone on Thursday, three times the daily average.

According to the United Nations, some four million people have fled Venezuela since 2015. The country’s imploding economy has resulted in high unemployment and shortages of food and medicine, and hundreds of thousands of people are said to be in need of humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra defended the tougher migration restrictions on Thursday. He told reporters at an event in the northern city of Piura that it’s completely logical and justified to ask them to bring visas to ensure better control of who enters.