Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust (RET)

Published purpose

March 2019 - Over 3.3 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, many of whom are currently residing in neighbouring countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In addition to hosting over 1 million Venezuelans, Colombia continues to suffer from the effects of longstanding violence and armed conflict between armed groups and criminal gangs. Crisis-affected people, including those in host communities, are in need of basic health assistance, food and nutrition assistance, protection services, shelter, and water and sanitation. With GAC’s support, RET International is helping address the basic health, shelter and protection needs of up to 9,400 crisis-affected and displaced people in the region of Catatumbo in Colombia. Project activities include: (1) providing supplies and materials to improve access to emergency shelters for displaced women and girls; (2) distributing up to 200 dignity kits; (3) providing legal, medical, psychosocial and protection services to survivors or persons at-risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV); (4) providing cash-based vouchers to up to 800 vulnerable and displaced people; and (5) providing technical assistance to support the official registration of internally displaced people.