As Conference on Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants Begins, HIAS Urges International Community to Renew Commitments
Mar 17, 2023
As donors, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world come together in Brussels for this week’s donors’ conference on the Venezuelan displacement crisis, HIAS is calling for a concerted effort to prioritize the most pressing needs of Venezuelans and their host communities, including women, children, and indigenous populations.
“After more than six years of crisis, over 7 million displaced Venezuelans around the region and the world are barely hanging on, and the communities hosting these refugees and migrants are also struggling,” said Cristina Garcia, HIAS’ Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The scale and complexity of the crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean demand comprehensive and sustained action. We call on donors to provide timely and substantial funding to support multi-country interventions, especially at borders. These resources should prioritize programs that address the most urgent needs, including food security, shelter, and protection.”
Garcia continued, “We also urge donors and governments to make sure that funding mechanisms are flexible and responsive to changing conditions on the ground, and that funds are delivered in a way that enables NGOs to reach the most vulnerable. Failure to secure adequate support will have shocking consequences for more than 4 million Venezuelans who need humanitarian aid because they are facing existing and emerging risks, including gender-based violence, trafficking, and disappearances, in 17 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region.”
Finally, HIAS renews its call on governments, donors and fellow NGOs to support longer-term measures to help host communities effectively integrate displaced Venezuelans, including providing access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities — as well as fostering social cohesion with host communities.
HIAS is responding to Venezuelan refugees and migrants across Latin America and the Caribbean with a unique presence in more than 70 field locations, and along the main migration routes in Central America and Mexico.
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