On Thursday 7 June, the European Commission announced humanitarian aid of €35.1 million to support the Venezuelan people and the neighbouring countries affected by the massive flows of refugees.
"We are very concerned about the critical situation in Venezuela and its impact in neighbouring countries such as Colombia which are confronted with a growing influx of people fleeing Venezuela", European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica stated.
This aid package will broken down as follows: - €5 million will provide health assistance, food and nutrition, water and protection for the most vulnerable mostly inside Venezuela; - another €5 million will support conflict-prevention measures to reduce social tensions and violence and protect people displaced by the crisis; - €18.1 million will address food and nutrition security, water, sanitation and hygiene within the country, as well as the socio-economic inclusion of migrants and support for host communities in neighbouring countries; - €7 million will meet further needs of the host communities.
European Parliament's green light to sending a delegation
On Thursday, the conference of presidents of the European Parliament's political groups gave its green light to sending a delegation of a dozen or so MEPs to the bordering cities of Cúcuta in Colombia and Boa Vista in Brazil. The delegation will very likely visit from Monday 25 June to Friday 29 June (see EUROPE 12035). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur with Mathieu Bion)