FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2024

MEDIA CONTACTS:
[email protected]
Angela Restrepo, [email protected], +57 316 6033551

MEDGLOBAL ALERT: BORDER CRISIS ESCALATES FOLLOWING VENEZUELA’S CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION

MedGlobal’s Colombia Program Manager Available for Interviews

Cúcuta, Colombia — Following the disputed Venezuelan presidential election, the situation at the Colombia-Venezuela border has become increasingly tense. Reports of violence on the Venezuelan side have prompted emergency responses from Colombian medical teams and NGOs, including MedGlobal.

Angela Restrepo, MedGlobal’s Colombia Program Manager in Cúcuta, explains:

“Due to the severe lack of medical services in Venezuela, Colombian emergency services have had to transport patients to Cúcuta for ICU care and surgeries. We expect the situation to escalate, with the border remaining closed except for humanitarian emergencies. MedGlobal is ready with emergency protocols to support those in need at our clinic near the international bridge.”

“If the disputed election results hold, declaring Nicolas Maduro the winner, we could see one of the largest waves of migration since 2021.”

Angela Restrepo is available for print and broadcast interviews to provide further insights on the current situation and MedGlobal’s ongoing efforts.

MedGlobal is preparing to support this influx in coordination with local officials and NGOs, recognizing that many migrants may continue towards the United States.

Cúcuta, the largest land border with Venezuela, serves as a critical point for migrants fleeing deteriorating conditions in their home country. Colombia currently hosts over 2.8 million Venezuelans, with many continuing their journey to the U.S. due to ongoing insecurity in Venezuela.

Since 2020, MedGlobal has been providing essential medical care in Cúcuta through resiliency medical missions, offering more than 9,000 medical consultations aimed at reducing healthcare disparities and supporting the local healthcare system.

MedGlobal also operates a clinic near the Simón Bolívar bridge connecting Venezuela and Colombia, offering general medicine consultations, medications, and ultrasounds.

In addition to their work in Cúcuta, MedGlobal teams also support migrants transiting to the Darién Gap. At a bus terminal in Medellín, Colombia, the organization offers free primary and pediatric care. And in Necoclí, Colombia, the departure port to the Darién Gap, MedGlobal distributes lifesaving kits and rehydration supplies to migrants.

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MedGlobal is a humanitarian aid nonprofit organization that provides emergency response and health programs to build resilience among vulnerable communities around the world.