World

Chile to Send Air Force Plane to Venezuela to Evacuate Citizens

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Chile will send an Air Force plane to Venezuela later in November to evacuate its citizens due to the growing humanitarian crisis, Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said.
Sputnik

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will help an important group of Chileans who need to return from Venezuela. Due to the serious difficulties they face to live there, they want to return to our country and we will help them to return to Chile," Ampuero said and added that the flight will take place “between the third and fourth week of November," as quoted in the statement.

EU Extends Sanctions on Venezuela for Another Year - Statement
In 2018, the Chilean Foreign Ministry has already helped 75 citizens, who were in a vulnerable situation, to return to the country, while there are still over 200 requests, according to the minister.

“The situation in Venezuela is, without a doubt, special. The serious humanitarian crisis has triggered the number of requests from Chileans who want to return. We estimate that the first flight with returning Chileans should accommodate about half of that group," Ampuero noted.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Venezuela's Gold Exports - White House
READ MORE: Venezuela Minister Says Chile, Colombia, Mexico May Be Involved in Maduro Attack

Venezuela is facing a political and economic crisis prompted by the fall of oil prices and the consequent fall of state revenue. Galloping inflation and shortage of goods have sparked mass protests across the country, while scores of Venezuelans are fleeing the tough situation abroad.

According to the UN Migration Agency, the flow of migrants from Venezuela increased more than tenfold over the past years — from 89,000 in 2015 to 900,000 in 2017.

Discuss