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A New Humanitarian Aid Experiment Is Headed To Venezuela. It's Virtual

Miami Herald
Venezuelan money is folded into strands that will be used to make handbags in Cúcuta, Colombia. As Venezuela's bolivar has lost its value, artisans say it's worth more as a raw material than as a currency."

In coming months, tens of thousands of Venezuelans — young, old, rich, poor, government supporters and opposition rabble-rousers — will get the equivalent of $10 deposited in their online accounts, no strings attached.

In a country reeling from hyperinflation and food and medicine shortages, organizers are hoping the scattershot donations will ultimately save lives — and perhaps pioneer a new way of delivering humanitarian aid.

The AirDrop Venezuela campaign is being organized by Airtm, an online currency exchange that allows users to buy and sell crypto and e-currencies using local cash. Founded in Mexico four years ago, the company claims to have completed 2.6 million transactions in more than 126 countries.

Read more from our news partner, The Miami Herald.

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