WILLEMSTAD - The Red Cross in the Netherlands is making a new appeal to the Dutch population to donate more money for relief campaigns in Venezuela. To date the Dutch giro account number 5125 has raised 430,000 euros for the Venezuelans in need.

According to the director of the Red Cross Netherlands, Marieke van Schaik, 45 million euros is needed for assistance in the country alone. She is also concerned about the situation in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao and neighboring countries such as Colombia.

In total, around 4 million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring countries.

According to the Red Cross director, an estimated 15,000 Venezuelan refugees live in illegality in Curaçao. The Red Cross helps wherever possible with medical care, clean drinking water, food and shelter.