Colombia prepares for refugee influx after US strikes on Venezuela
Al Jazeera••nation
Key Points:
- Colombia is preparing for a potential refugee crisis following US strikes in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, with Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez deploying 30,000 soldiers to the border and enacting emergency measures to support refugees.
- The Colombian government has established five emergency command posts near the border and activated 17 centers nationwide, in coordination with the UN International Organization for Migration, to provide food, healthcare, education, and other services to refugees.
- Colombian intelligence warns that armed groups such as the ELN and dissident FARC factions may seek to exploit the instability caused by Maduro’s ouster, prompting heightened security efforts to prevent retaliation or increased criminal activity.
- Humanitarian organizations, including the Colombian Red Cross, have activated emergency response plans and
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