The international donor conference today sponsored by the European Union (EU) to support Venezuelan migrants and host communities, at a time of pandemic, reached a total contribution of 2.5 billion euros, Brussels announced.
“We managed to get a very significant amount and I think we should all congratulate ourselves,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, speaking at the end of this fundraising.
Altogether, according to data released by the European Commission, donation commitments totaling 2.544 billion euros were collected, of which 231.7 million euros were mobilized by the EU through its member states.
The European Commission has put forward a budget of 144.2 million euros, which will be earmarked for immediate humanitarian assistance, support for medium and long-term development, as well as actions for conflict prevention.
The European Investment Bank has announced the allocation of 400 million euros in additional loans to the region.
Promoted by the EU and the Spanish Government, this donor conference was held digitally today, given the constraints imposed by covid-19, to try to raise awareness among the international community and mobilize resources to support the displaced population and the main host communities of Venezuelan migrants, more fragile due to the pandemic.
At a time when five million people have already been forced to leave Venezuela (data from the past five years) due to the political and social crisis in that country, and almost 80% of these have moved to other places in Latin America, creating a serious crisis migration, these states are now also facing the pandemic.
“I want to send a message of support and solidarity to Venezuelans who have left their homes,” concluded Josep Borrell at the end of the event held ‘online’.
Supported by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM), this international donor conference was attended by more than 40 participating countries, together with UN agencies, international financial institutions and representatives of national civil society and international.
This event comes after another international donor conference organized in October 2019 in Brussels, also to help Venezuelan migrants and host communities.
– .
