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Venezuelan Migrant Response

Providing emergency telecommunications services to support our Members and other relief aid agencies with active programs in response to the crisis.

The complex emergency stemming from an economic and political crisis in Venezuela has caused many Venezuelans to flee. Of the millions seeking safety and access to a better way of life,  border countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador are impacted with the responsibility to ensure that security, safety, and effective aid coordination is in place to protect itself as well as those in need. NHFO is providing emergency telecommunications services to support its members and other relief aid agencies with active programs in response to the crisis.

Since December 2018, NetHope has, through support from its partners and member organizations, been able to provide connectivity to over 150,000 migrants in over 100 sites in Colombia and Peru. NetHope partners Cisco, Facebook, Team Rubicon, and MSB supported with deployment of the services.

For more information regarding NetHope Field Operations, please write to nh.fieldoperations@nethope.org

Fact Sheet Download this high-level synopsis of NetHope's leadership in this effort.
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Venezuelan Migrant Crisis Sitrep For April-May, 2020
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Comprehensive NetHope FieldOps Sitrep For April-May 2020
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HIGHLIGHTS

NetHope Venezuelan Migrant Response information is received from NetHope’s local members and staff operating within Colombia. Currently there is no restriction of mobility due to COVID-19 for telecommunications companies however, for the general population, it remains obligatory to remain home unless authorized to work and for emergencies. While the Colombian government is making attempts to gradually revive the economy by slowly allowing companies to reopen, NetHope continues to respond to the crisis through its partner Cisco which is providing remote assistance to active NetHope sites. NetHope is also receiving support from seconded member Mercy Corps, the IT manager on the ground. NetHope is currently providing connectivity to 75 sites within Colombia and Peru. Download the pdf of the sitrep for details.

NetHope/Facebook Grant (supporting COVID-19 programs) has been extended to members International Medical Corps (IMC), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and the International Refugee Committee (IRC), to support their Communications with Community (CWC) efforts to increase access to information, raise awareness on COVID-19 related topics, and to support the provision of medical supplies such as PPE and hygiene materials.

The International Medical Corps (IMC) Cameroon supported by the NH/FB Grant is implementing activities aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19) through hygiene promotion and training amongst the 58,096 refugees in four sites of the East region: Gado (25,701 refugees), Lolo (12,275 refugees), Mbilé (13,165 refugees) and Timangolo (6,955 refugees, as well as case management support at Mokolo District Hospital.

With the support of NetHope, International Medical Corps has started the procurement process and expects the first delivery of handwashing stations the week of June 1. NetHope will be supporting awareness-raising activities when the handwashing stations arrive training of community health workers.

IMC is also participating in coordination meetings to plan critical prevention and response actions for COVID-19 at the national EOCs with the Ministry of Health, Department of Disease, Epidemics and Pandemics, and the Regional Center for the Prevention and Control of Epidemics. Since its first efforts in response to COVID-19 and during the reporting period (May 16 to 29, 2020), International Medical Corps has also supported the following:

  • within the far north region, IMC has trained 28 health staff, 74 community health workers in infection and COVID-19 prevention
  • in Eastern Cameroon, scaled up gender-based violence activities through women and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS), including case management and psychosocial support.
  • continues to deliver life-saving food distribution and child protection services, such as family tracing and reunification, to ensure the health and well-being of vulnerable refugees during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • through the support of other donors until the handwashing stations arrive from the support of NetHope, are conducting awareness-raising activities regarding preventive measures that can be taken for COVID-19 focusing on refugees and have respected key precautions, especially handwashing and mask-wearing. A total of 1,037 persons (375 Males, 662 Females) were reached through door-to-door outreach as described below:

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supported by the NH/FB Grant, is developing Omni Channel call centers integrating Telerivet and Twilio system software across Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. The platform is used for sharing information on the prevention of COVID-19 and how to obtain hygiene kits and other needed resources such as clean water. 

The call centers will be available within existing sites implemented by NetHope currently providing connectivity for Venezuelan migrants. The NRC has started offering education and legal aid remotely using radio messages, phone calls, and videos, targeting 30,000 vulnerable populations and migrants. The information provides access to health supplies and locations of help centers, international protection for counseling, and remote legal assistance services. The NRC is also updating the ipi.conse.co site with COVID-19 relevant information for people in need of international protection. The NRC Venezuelan team is also discussing potential systems to be used for sending key education messages for COVID-19 response.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), Colombia supported by the NH/FB Grant, is currently developing the Signpost information sharing platform in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for digital access to vital information services. The website will be rolled out to the existing 71 NetHope sites across Colombia to provide access to vital information to over 150,000 Venezuelan migrants and affected communities.

CHALLENGES

Limited mobility to directly support and report issues of existing NetHope member programs. is hampering existing networks and ability to deploy new sites in support of the Venezuelan Migrant Response.

  • Existing hotspots require urgent maintenance especially within the Guajira as week as the need to expand Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas for students who need internet for virtual classes.
  • Information received by NetHope national members currently operating within Colombia is that there are no restrictions of mobility for telecommunications companies due to COVID-19, however, for the general population, it remains obligatory to remain home unless authorized to work, for emergencies.  Special dates are provided for people to exit their homes for supplies once a week.

Download the pdf of the sitrep for details about NetHope Partnership and Member Opportunities

Participating Members

Participating Partners

Sitrep Archive

NetHope's comprehensive Sitrep for March 2020
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