Since 2017, the U.S. government has provided more than $656 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuelans, according to a February 4 report from the U.S. Department of State.
The figure shows a significant increase in U.S. resources destined for this purpose in the last few years.
The document stated that “nearly $473 million [of the total amount] is humanitarian assistance for the nearly 4.8 million Venezuelans who have been forced to flee their country and for those facing acute humanitarian needs inside Venezuela.”
The government of U.S. President Donald Trump has played a critical role in shedding light on the situation and taking measures to pressure the disputed Nicolás Maduro regime. It has also provided support for Interim President Juan Guaidó, whom Trump received at the White House on February 5.
The U.S. support included the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which provided “more than $208 million of that total to provide Venezuelans with food and shelter, register for services, and integrate them into host countries.”
The U.S. government said that its cooperation is also aimed at funding the work of international and nongovernmental organizations, as well as collaborating with countries that receive Venezuelan migrants, such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and several Caribbean island nations.
“We provide this assistance to promote regional stability and help Venezuelans meet their needs close to home so when changes come to Venezuela, Venezuelans can return safely and voluntarily,” the Department of State said in the press release.
U.S. authorities added that the assistance is based on four aspects, including the provision of shelter, food, and basic supplies; legal status and asylum; integration; and employment.
The Department of State’s report also acknowledges the work conducted with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Pan American Development Foundation, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“With our support, IOM provided temporary shelter to more than 53,000 Venezuelans in the region between April 2018 and September 2019,” the document said. In addition, it stated that IOM “supported 2,657 Venezuelans with income generation activities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Mexico. In Chile, 1,494 Venezuelans participated in a labor fair for the socio-economic integration of refugees and migrants.”
