Hollywood icon Angelina Jolie has called on the international community to help the 20,000 Venezuelan children who are at risk of being left without basic citizenship rights.
The 44-year-old actress, who was visiting refugees forced to flee their homes along the Colombian-Venezuelan border, drew attention to the thousands of children born abroad who were being left stateless as a result of the humanitarian crisis.
Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who is on a two-day trip to meet Venezuelan migrants, called on the western world to provide more support to the South American countries sheltering the refugees.
The visit, which also saw the star meet with Colombian President Ivan Duque in Cartagena, comes a month after a failed attempted to overthrow President Maduro by the opposition leader Juan Guaido.
The visit, which also saw the star meet with Colombian President Ivan Duque in Cartagena, comes a month after a failed attempted to overthrow President Maduro by the opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Speaking at a press conference the Academy Award-winner said: I’ve seen for myself the strain being placed on the schools and hospitals and local services, but I have also seen the inspiring humanity being shown by local communities.
‘The President and I spoke of the risk of statelessness for more than 20,000 Venezuelan children, his commitment to always helping children.
‘We discussed the search for durable solutions for the internationally displaced and refugees in the context of the Colombian peace process.
Above all, we agreed on the urgent need of the international community to give more support to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador who are bearing the brunt of this crisis.’
She added: ‘So, I am hopeful and optimistic about Colombia’s ability to weather these challenges and to emerge even stronger.
‘And I will certainly do my part to urge the international community to give support necessary to help achieve the long-term peace and stability of this very beautiful country.’
As the refugee crisis escalates, Venezuelan parents have found it increasingly difficult to register their baby’s birth as a result of an ever-shrinking number of Venezuelan consulates or because they do not have migration papers.
The UN estimates around four million Venezuelan refugees have fled their homeland since 2014 to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Following the visit, the Colombian president, whose country has received 1.3 million refugees from Venezuela, said he hoped Jolie’s visit would raise attention to the seriousness of the migration crisis.
The move led to a series of clashes on the streets and was seen as a sign of Moscow’s weakening support for Venezuel
The move led to a series of clashes on the streets and was seen as a sign of Moscow’s weakening support for Venezuel
Jolie’s visit comes as citizens of the country continue to flee to neighbouring Colombia where the government and aid agencies have tried to provide housing, food and healthcare.
In April violent clashes erupted in the country after the US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido tried and failed to oust President Maduro- who is seen as Venezuela’s interim president.
Guaido, whose effort was dubbed Operacion Libertad, had urged local military to rise up against the government in a video.
The operation, which translates to Operation Freedom, was unsuccessful and instead saw hundreds of rebellion protests erupt on the streets of Caracas.
Following the failed oust the Russian state defense contractor Rostec removed hundreds of its contractors from Venezuela’s, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
