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Billionaire Richard Branson is organising an aid concert in hopes of drawing more attention and offering relief to the current humanitarian crisis in Venezuela .
The british-born entrepreneur confirmed the plans on Monday, saying that the aid concert on Friday was in the works and would focus on raising funds for “much-needed medical help” to the country.
Mr Branson told the Associated Press about 300,000 people were expected to attend the concert, which is taking place in Cúcuta, Colombia, a stone’s throw away from the Venezuelan-Colombian border.
Cúcuta is home to thousands of migrants fleeing the crisis in Venezuela. It is also the staging point for humanitarian aid—primarily from the US government—to Venezuela that has suffered a blockade by Nicolas Maduro . Mr Maduro has claimed the shipments are part of an attempted “coup”.
The concert lineup will include Spanish-French singer Manu Chao, Mexican band Mana, Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz and Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra.
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in picturesShow all 23 1 /23Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures One of the many children that have left their homes in Venezuela and seek temporary accommodation on their journey south. In Bogotá, Columbia this Informal Tented Settlement close to the central bus station is now home to several hundred refugees
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures People leave Venezuela carrying their worldly possessions and enter Columbia filing past on the bridge at Cúcuta. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Katiuska Rodriguez, 30, left three children back in Venezuela and stands at traffic lights with her life story on a cardboard sign in Quito begging for donations
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Kevin Reynold, 11, walked and hitchhiked with his family for 21 days to reach Quito, Ecuador. They arrived penniless and exhausted. CARE Ecuador through there delivery partners ADRA Ecuador are able to offer shelter, food and psychosocial support
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Jesus Hidalgo, 21, walked 20 days through Columbia arriving hungry and exhausted. “The Columbian people were very kind to us he said.”
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Ruth Santos 52, arrives with her husband and their two children at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador. When CAREs delivery partner ADRA Ecuador welcome her she breaks down with emotion
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Yolanda Mendez 27, from Puerto de la Cruz in Venezuela, left her husband and child to find work in Ecuador ahead of their arrival in the coming months. She is one of many mothers leaving their children behind with partners or relatives in order to support them
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Streams of people leave Venezuela reach the midway point on the bridge entering Columbia at Cúcuta. The first round of immigration checks to see if they had the Andean card or passport stamped. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Hender Mendez Diaz, arrives with his wife and their two children at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador. He worked for PDVSA the Venezuelan Oil company for 26 years and was dismissed for joining a demonstration with 20,000 fellow employees objecting to the restructuring plans. He received no pension and no medical support for him or his family
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Maria Isabella 7, stood at reception with her mother at the Foundation of Migrant Attention in Bogotá, Columbia. After resting at the shelter for five days, and with their worldly possessions in two plastic bags, their journey to Ecuador continues. Sister Teresina hands Maria Isabella, 7, a bear for her to take and she replied “Thank you sister, this bear is the only thing I have in the world, I will look after him”
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Streams of people leave Venezuela and enter Columbia filing past on the bridge at Cúcuta. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures David Santos 8, arrives with her family at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Gilberto Gomez 39, arrived at Rumichaca with his brother Pedro. They has managed to sell what possessions they could from their homes for a fraction of their value and purchase bus tickets to get them to Ecuador
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures John Hydro Fernandez 21, has not eaten properly for 3 years living in Venezuela. He now lives at an Informal Tented Settlement in Bogotá, Columbia, close to the central bus station which is now home to several hundred refugees. He has had fever for five days and does not have the money to see a doctor, he wept from the pain.
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Kare Angely 4, sits on top of her mothers suitcase huddled in a blanket to shield her from the freeing cold temperatures at Rumichaca border crossing on the Columbian side. Sofia her mother couldn’t stay in Venezuela any longer as there was no food for the children
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan’s queued late into the night in Ecuador at Rumichaca on the border. The lucky few will have a seat on this bus destined for Huaqillias on the Peruvian border
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Richard Villaneuva, 18, walked and hitchhiked for 20 days through Columbia. He was one of a large exodus of single men leaving Venezuela alone rather than in groups as they felt they had more chance in being able to hitch a lift
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan’s pass through Columbian migration at Rumichaca, they exit through metal barriers herding them through like cattle. The temperature drops to 5 degrees
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Jhoan Cedeno 24, walked and hitchhiked for 19 days through Columbia arriving hungry and exhausted. “I need to find a job to be able to send some money home for my father who is unwell, It is difficult to find work here.”
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures
Paddy Dowling
Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures
Paddy Dowling
The aid concert will not be funded by any government entity, Mr Branson said. He is hoping to rake in donations from online viewers watching the concert via livestream. All artists will also be performing on stage for free.
The fundraising goal for the concert is $100m. Mr Branson also hopes the concert will open “Venezuela’s borders so that humanitarian aid can finally reach those millions who need it”.
Mr Branson posted a short video on YouTube explaining that Venezuela’s oppostion leader, Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself president, and his ally, political prisoner Leopoldo López, requested he help organise the concert.
“We must break this impasse,” Mr Branson said in the video, “or many Venezuelans will be on the verge of starvation or death.”
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