The Swiss government chartered a cargo plane to support the efforts of nine organisations – United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGOs – which had gathered supplies worth CHF2 million ($2.1 million) to help people in Venezuela.
The relief aid included personal protective equipment for use in combating Covid-19, medicine, emergency equipment, hygienic articles and equipment to prepare drinking water to help around 1.2 million people, the Swiss foreign ministry said on June 19External link.
The organisations shipped the relief supplies to Switzerland where they were reloaded at Zurich Airport and flown to Caracas on June 19.
A team from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit was also on board. Along with representatives from the Swiss embassy in Caracas and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the team supervised the handing over of the supplies to the organisations taking part on the ground.
“The operation demonstrates Switzerland’s firm commitment to humanitarian principles and practice. It also makes it possible for Switzerland to lend support to extremely vulnerable populations in a highly polarised environment,” the ministry said.
Since 2017, the Swiss authorities have provided aid worth CHF24 million to alleviate suffering in Venezuela. This year, it has allocated an additional CHF12 million in response to the humanitarian needs in the South American nation. The aim is to also have an impact on the neighbouring countries, where millions of Venezuelan citizens reside.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Switzerland has delivered relief supplies to several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. In total, the Alpine nation has earmarked over CHF203 million for the global fight against Covid-19.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Need a diplomatic messenger? Switzerland is eager to help
This content was published on
Switzerland's “protecting power” mandates have nearly doubled in the last few years. So why is there rising interest in this Swiss good office?
Swiss oil traders and banks burned by Venezuela ties
This content was published on
Several Swiss companies and banks have found themselves in the line of fire as the United States ramps up pressure on the Venezuelan government.
Swiss-sponsored UN resolution calls for stronger pandemic cooperation
This content was published on
UN member states have approved a Swiss-sponsored resolution calling for “intensified international cooperation” to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
Global cooperation needed to prevent Covid-19 drugs ‘free-for-all’
This content was published on
Weaker countries may be pushed aside in the scramble for effective drugs to fight coronavirus, an infectious diseases expert fears.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.