New York, May 26, 2020 – The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) participated at the International Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, promoted by the European Union and the Government of Spain, with the support of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Following the massive Venezuelan exodus of previous years, the EU, together with UNHCR and IOM organized the first Solidarity Conference to raise awareness on the magnitude of the situation and on the need to mobilize funds through a donor conference in the first half of 2020.
The need to expand the support for humanitarian, protection, socio-economic integration, and development programs for Venezuelan refugees and migrants and their host communities is now even greater due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main objectives of the conference were:
- Mobilize bilateral and multilateral support to support the efforts made by States to include Venezuelan refugees and migrants in national programs and stimulate labor markets for the benefit of Venezuelans and host communities.
- Mobilize financial support for the revised 2020 Response Plan for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (RMRP), which includes 151 partners in 17 countries who collectively require USD 1,41 Billion for protection, emergency life-saving assistance and longer-term solutions.
- Facilitate stronger and coordinated engagement from key actors, including cooperating States, development actors, as well as civil society.
Along with its Scalabrinian partners, SIMN is providing in-person and remote essential assistance and programs to vulnerable populations including Venezuelan migrants in welcoming centers, shelters, schools, orphanages, medical clinics, and centers for seafarers in the midst of the COVID-19.