UAE gives Dh10 million worth of aid for Venezuela refugees as crisis grips nation

Emirates Red Crescent is supporting more than 300,000 refugees in Colombia

People cross a makeshift bridge in the Tachira River, from Venezuela into Colombia, near the Simon Bolivar International bridge on March 12, 2019. AP

The UAE, represented by Emirates Red Crescent, has provided emergency humanitarian assistance worth Dh10 million to Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, including 75,000 food parcels, medical equipment and medicines for 375,000 refugees.

State news agency Wam said the move follows the directives of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to respond to the crisis.

Venezuela has been gripped by political crisis, currency collapse and most recently, power outages across the country. More than three million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years.

Many have been flooding Colombia, where the authorities are attempting to provide for families with little access to food and water.

The country's economic collapse has been worsening for years but political crisis gripped the country in January when challenger Juan Guaido declared himself president. The US has officially recognised the Mr Guaido, 35, and urged Nicolas Maduro, who is accused of economic mismanagement, to stand down.