Minister Brophy announces further €2 million in humanitarian assistance for the crisis in Venezuela

Minister of State for Overseas Development and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, today expressed his grave concern about the humanitarian situation caused by the Venezuelan migrant crisis and pledged €2m in humanitarian assistance from Ireland towards the international response to the crisis, a doubling of last year’s grant.

Minister Brophy made the pledge at the 2021 International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants convened by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Organisation of Migration and the Government of Canada.

Minister Brophy said:

‘Forced displacement of children, women and men in regions all over the world is one of the most challenging problems facing us and we have heard today of the terrible plight of those who are forced to flee because of the crisis inside Venezuela. The exodus of Venezuelans from their home country is at historic levels. The impact on human lives remains critical and the situation has been further aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.’

Minister Brophy commended countries in the region for their generosity towards the victims of the crisis:

‘Countries neighbouring Venezuela have shown exceptional solidarity to those forced to leave. Now it is more crucial than ever that the international community shows increased solidarity with these countries.’

In announcing the funding pledge Minister Brophy called on the international community to engage and work with all stakeholders in Venezuela:

‘The international community needs to engage and work with all stakeholders in the country to support a peaceful, negotiated and democratic solution to the crisis. The solution should be led and owned by the long suffering people of Venezuela’.