Government Plans to Contribute '3 Million Dollars' to Support Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants

Multilateral Diplomacy Coordinator Attends Donor Countries' Video Conference on Responding to Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Ham Sang-wook, Director-General for Multilateral Diplomacy Coordination, attended the donor countries' virtual meeting on Venezuelan refugees and migrants on the 26th as the government representative and announced that Korea will contribute more than 3 million dollars this year.

Since the Venezuelan crisis began in 2014, the international community, led by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has raised awareness and contributions, and the Korean government has been providing humanitarian aid since 2018.

This meeting was held to consolidate international support and contributions to respond to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis, which has worsened due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). About 40 countries including Korea, Japan, Germany, as well as international organizations and NGO officials, attended the meeting hosted by the Spanish Foreign Minister.

The number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants continues to rise sharply, and the COVID-19 spread in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and other countries hosting the majority of refugees is also severe. According to Spain, the EU, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of May, approximately 5.1 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have been recorded. This is the second most serious scale in the world after Syrian refugees.

In response, Director-General Ham confirmed the Korean government's solidarity and support for the international community and Venezuelan refugee-hosting countries' efforts to address the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis, and announced a pledge to contribute more than 3 million dollars this year to Venezuelan refugees and migrants, along with COVID-19 response support in the region.

Director-General Ham also emphasized that, following President Moon Jae-in's announcement of a 100 million dollar humanitarian aid contribution plan on May 18 during the World Health Assembly, Korea will actively contribute to the international community's COVID-19 response efforts.