More than a score of Slovenians in Venezuela, who are affected by a grave economic and political crisis in that South American country, have sent requests for repatriation to the Diaspora Office of the Slovenian government.

The action aimed at enabling Slovenians living in Venezuela to come back to their country of origin was launched by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry in May thus responding to the appeals of people of the Slovenian background in Venezuela, who have been left without income and healthcare protection for months due to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

An estimated several thousand Slovenians are in that South American state.

According to reports of local media outlets in Ljubljana, no repatriation request has been to date granted, as the adoption of a special law enabling that procedure is being awaited.

In the meantime, the Slovenian government has okayed 1,500 euros in aid for applicants, and an additional 50,000 euros have been sent via the European Commission’s humanitarian aid and crisis management department to cover costs of healtcare and hospital treatment.

Office for Croats abroad actively helping community in Venezuela

This past Wednesday, State-Secretary in the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas, informed the Sabor that the office was actively helping the Croat community in Venezuela, which is in a difficult social, economic and security situation.

There are just under 5,000 Croats there and together with humanitarian organisations, the UN and anyone who can, the Office for Croats Abroad is helping in preserving that community, Milas said, submitting a report to parliament on the office’s activities in 2017.

The state should have certain “magnets” that will attract some people who are having a hard time living there, MP Ante Babic (HDZ) said.

Milas informed that in 2017 the office had granted HRK 1.3 million for projects submitted by the Croat communities in South America and South Africa.