According to the same informative note, the use of contacts “is intended exclusively for situations of proven urgency, in order to guarantee an effective and timely response from consular services”.
“For other questions, such as requests for information or scheduling services, the usual consular service channels should be used (…). It is recommended that national citizens [portugueses] Residents in Venezuela keep their contacts updated, in order to guarantee effective and timely communication with Portuguese consular services whenever necessary”, specified the same text.
The statement mentions the Portugal Emergency telephone number in Caracas +58 414-466 53 50 and email cgcaracas@mne.pt.
Telephone contact details for the consulate in Valencia +58 412-0405565 and +58 414-484 35 41, as well as email valencia@mne.pt.
Portuguese people can still call the Consular Emergency Office by calling +351 217 929 714 and +351 961 706 472, or using the email gec@mne.pt.
Last week, the consulates general of Portugal in Venezuelan cities of Caracas and Valencia announced the opening of communication channels through the WhatsApp platform to disseminate communication of interest to the Portuguese community living in the country.
“New communication channel: The Consulate General of Portugal in Caracas, as of today [quarta-feira]of a new communication channel aimed exclusively at the Portuguese community in this area of jurisdiction”, the diplomatic representation announced on the occasion on the social network Instagram.
Also on the social network Instagram, the Consulate General of Portugal in Valencia asked people with Portuguese nationality to join the WhatsApp channel in order to receive important information more quickly.
The two consulates also released a message asking the Portuguese to contact travel agencies and airlines in order to obtain information about recently canceled flights.
“Given the current situation of uncertainty regarding the cancellation of flights in and out of Venezuela, All citizens who have scheduled trips to and from the country are advised to contact their respective airline and/or travel agency to obtain information about their flights and possible alternatives”, explained.
The Consulate General of Portugal in Valencia also advised the Portuguese to keep an eye on publications from the Embassy of Portugal in Caracas and both consular representations to resolve other issues.
The country has a significant community of Portuguese and Portuguese descendants. In 2019, estimates pointed to around 300 thousand people.
On November 21, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommended “extreme caution” when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean due to what it considers “a potentially dangerous situation” in the region.
Several airlines, including TAP, then suspended their flights to that country.
The Venezuelan Government subsequently decided to revoke the operating licenses of TAP, Iberia, Avianca, Latam Colombia, Turkish Airlines and Gol, accusing them of “joining in acts of terrorism” promoted by the United States.
These decisions come in a context of growing tension between Venezuela and the United States.
Under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, Washington has maintained a naval and air detachment in Caribbean waters close to Venezuela since September, having even mobilized the largest aircraft carrier in the world to the region.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump even admitted ground attacks on Venezuelan territory in the fight against drug cartels.
This Saturday Trump warned that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered “totally closed”, a statement that Caracas condemned and classified as a “colonialist threat”.