Venezuela activates operation to care for displaced Colombians

The Venezuelan government today activated a special operation to take care of civilians displaced from Colombia by the armed conflict in the Catatumbo region, in the northeast of the neighbouring country.    

The operation was carried out by order of President Nicolás Maduro, through the Civil Protection and the mayors of Jesús María Semprún (Zulia) and García de Hevia (Táchira), Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil wrote on Telegram.

The senior diplomat pointed out that the civilian population ‘is forced to flee from the terrible armed violence that has hit them’.

He pointed out that Venezuela, faithful to its commitment to fraternity and solidarity with the Colombian people and government, “will always be ready to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to the population that is repeatedly affected by the scourge of war in the brotherly country.”

An audiovisual accompanying the message shows children, young people, pregnant women and elderly people in a park and an unidentified person who says: “They are fleeing the violence in our brother country, from Catatumbo, La Gabarra and Tibú.”

“We need mattresses, mineral water, food, medicine, nappies, milk for newborn babies, anything you can help us with,” he said.

According to the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office, the fighting between the National Liberation Army and the so-called Structure 33, a remnant of the now defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces – People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias – Ejército del Pueblo), has left more than thirty people dead, several wounded, kidnapped and hundreds of families displaced.