A total of three shipments with a total of more than 200 tons of humanitarian aid supplies have arrived so far in Venezuela since the start of COVID-19 response. This helps strengthen the national health system, improve access to clean water for thousands of families, and provide continuity in other critical response areas, including sexual and reproductive health. The third shipment that arrived on 20 June 2020 is a joint initiative of the United Nations and Switzerland, to deliver materials originally provided by WHO/PAHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM and other humanitarian organizations. All three shipments included medicines, medical supplies, personal protective equipment for health workers, water purifying tablets, water tanks, hygiene kits and nutritional support packages, as well as sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and education materials. The supplies are distributed in prioritized hospitals, health centers and among the most vulnerable communities.
UN and partners have called for US$ 72 million to help Venezuela respond to the pandemic and ensure continuity of other critical activities within the framework of the national COVID-19 Inter-sectoral Preparedness and Care Plan. The UN Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela underlines how these vital supplies will allow to focus aid in priority states, based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. UN representatives are grateful to the Government of Venezuela for having facilitated the arrival of this important shipment, and to the Government of Switzerland for transporting these supplies that help save lives. UN recognizes the financial contribution of many partners to humanitarian activities in Venezuela, and reiterates the UN call for solidarity, joint work, humanitarian access and increased financial contributions to help combat the pandemic and continue to save lives under the existing global Humanitarian Response Plan.