Red Cross Netherlands Director Marieke van Schaik (standing) at one of the medical walk-in consultations in Venezuela. (Red Cross/Arie Kievit photo)
THE HAGUE–The Netherlands Red Cross issued an urgent call on Monday for increased donations so it can continue providing much-needed medical attention to the deprived people in Venezuela.
The Red Cross so far has received only five per cent of the 45 million euros it needs this year for its emergency assistance project in Venezuela. “At this moment, an increasing amount of relief goods are entering the country, but the Red Cross wants to continue this operation and funds are needed to do so,” the organisation stated in a press release.
The situation in Venezuela has been grave for a while: there are great shortages and the impact on health care is enormous. Medication is unavailable or unaffordable. In the past months, medication and other Red Cross medical provisions have arrived in Venezuela, including generators.
“Generators are essential here. Electricity is unreliable, which is presents a dangerous situation for patients dependent on medical equipment,” said Red Cross Netherlands Director Marieke van Schaik, who just returned from a visit to Venezuela. She explained that with the two Red Cross generators, the public hospital in Puerto Cabello was able to reinstate the use of the intensive care.
The Red Cross organises medical walk-in consultations in regions without doctors or pharmacies. “People are extremely grateful when they get a medical check-up and the necessary medication. Sometimes, people haven’t seen a doctor in a long time. Medication is very scarce or they can’t afford it. These consultations make a big difference for the Venezuelans, but much more is needed,” said Van Schaik.
A delegation of the Netherlands Red Cross visited the South American country last week to check on the relief operation, which the international Red Cross has initiated together with the Venezuela Red Cross. Van Schaik said she was impressed with the passion of the local volunteers, but she expressed great concern about the lack of funds.
“I have seen how the medical consultations give people a little bit of hope. This assistance means the world for an elderly man like Eladio Hernandez who has to survive with US $5 per month and who can afford little more than a box of eggs and some cheese. He received medication for his stomach-aches and high blood pressure,” Van Schaik said.
According to her, there is a great need for medical equipment throughout Venezuela. “We urgently need funds for our relief operations, but there is too little attention for the humanitarian needs in this country.”
The Red Cross has been collecting funds for the people in Venezuela, the four million Venezuelans who fled to surrounding countries and to the Dutch Caribbean. So far, the Netherlands Red Cross has collected 430,000 euros, a mere fraction of the 45 million euros that is urgently needed.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/89170-red-cross-urgently-needs-more-funds-for-venezuela
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