Venezuelan refugees yet to receive assistance – Reg 1 Chairman

It has been more than two weeks since pleas were made for the provision of supplies for the languishing Venezuelan migrants who departed their home country for Guyana, and to date, no materials have been received and persons are still awaiting assistance. This was communicated by Region One (Barima-Waini) Chairman, Brentol Ashley on Thursday, who confirmed that the refugees are still lacking food and household items. Ashley told Guyana Times that assistance is needed to support those who would have fled the conditions of their country and the region was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that everyone was provided for. A survey was also in progress since a number of persons residing in the communities were unaccounted for and many are scattered across the region as they seek shelter and possible employment in whatever ways they can. Some of the food items needed are non-perishables and can be transported to the remote communities without spoilage. Sources who also transport necessary items told this publication that materials to build shelters, such as tarpaulins, are essential since flooding is evident during the month of December. Along with that, clothing was already provided to some individuals but any contribution is welcomed.
“We had sent up some clothes but not all the villages got because it’s a lot of them. We’re trying to cater for the children as much as possible and then go on to the adults. If we’re going to send assistance, it will be things like tarpaulins…ropes and plastics to ensure that the shelter is secured.”
The Chairman had also posed the thought that the rain will take its effect during this time of the year.
“We’re currently having rain now. We haven’t had reports from villages of flooding and so forth but of course it is going to be a factor that is going to affect the migrants because of the kind of makeshift camps that they have,” Ashley was quoted as saying.
It was reported that an initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry to send medical personnel at key areas so that the refugees can access basic health care facilities. This is done on a 24-hour basis.
A multi-sectoral committee was also established to coordinate the national response and assistance to the Venezuelans. Local public officers also underwent a one-day training workshop on the international best practice to prepare them in assisting migrants and protecting them from abuse and exploitation.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Citizenship Minister Winston Felix to ascertain what Government’s position was on assisting the migrants proved futile as calls went unanswered.