Minister Felix distributes additional supplies to Venezuelan migrants
─ migrants in Khan’s Hill, Barima-Waini benefit, as well as Kamwatta, Powaikuru, Imbotero and Smith Creek
─ this is minister’s second visit to location to distribute food, sanitation supplies to migrants crossing the border to escape their country’s economic crisis
─ govt will ensure migrants “are treated humanely”
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 16, 2018
Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix visited the Indigenous community of Khan’s Hill in the Barima-Waini Region to distribute additional supplies to the Venezuelan migrants, on Friday last.
This is the minister’s second visit to the area to distribute food and sanitation supplies to migrants crossing the border from the neighbouring country.
Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Citizenship in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF distributed much-needed supplies to the migrants.
The three-day exercise saw migrant families in Khan’s Hill, Kamwatta, Powaikuru, Imbotero and Smith Creek receiving hampers which included packaged and canned goods.
During the visit, the Minister of Citizenship identified a prospective piece of land on which government is planning to establish a humanitarian centre for migrants crossing the border into Region One.
Minister Felix had noted the government will ensure they “[Venezuelan migrants] are treated humanely”. He disclosed that they would have been “seeking to identify areas in which government can control the inflow of Venezuelans and we can settle them in a given area.”
A multi-agency committee, which includes the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Ministries of Citizenship, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Public Health, Communities and Social Protection, was established to address the influx of Venezuelans in Guyana’s border regions.
The agency is currently assessing the situation in Regions Seven and Nine to ascertain the number of migrants in those areas.
The government’s efforts are in keeping with the United Nations High Commission’s recommended guidelines and principles on Human Rights at International Borders.
Anara Khan
Images: Civil Defence Commission