President Nicolas Maduro made the pledge last month to shelter Palestinian children who were orphaned and wounded has a result of the conflict. On Tuesday Venezuelan foreign minister Elias Jaua announced that the shelter, volunteers and medical staff were ready to welcome the Palestinian child refugees, and that the necessary legal protocols with the UNICEF and the national child protection body had been fulfilled. The government now awaits the final green light from Palestinian authorities to be able to bring the children to Venezuela.

Maduro’s promise was made as part of the Venezuelan government’s wider solidarity effort with Palestine, which has included sending several tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza, pledging reconstruction aid, and applying diplomatic pressure with other South American governments for a lasting ceasefire and negotiations leading to a “free Palestine”.

The images of the shelter released yesterday showed the pro-government minister of Aragua state (centre – north), Tareck El Aissami, where the shelter is located, giving a tour of the house to the Palestinian representative in Venezuela, Riad Al-Maliki.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the plan is to give the children a happy and recreational environment, and any necessary medical attention, until it is safe for them to return to Palestine.

All images by Prensa Gobernación de Aragua/Joselit Ramírez. See full media report on VA.com here.