Venezuela Ready to Take in 20,000 Syrian Refugees - President

Nicolas Maduro says Venezuela is prepared to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees amid the global migrant crisis.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Venezuela is prepared to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees amid the global migrant crisis, President Nicolas Maduro said.

"I have ordered the… foreign minister to meet with the Syrian community, as Venezuela will host 20,000 Syrian compatriots, I want 20,000 Syrian families to come to our Venezuelan homeland," Maduro at a cabinet meeting on Monday, as quoted by the NTN24 channel.

The world is currently struggling with an unprecedented migrant crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people attempting to flee conflict torn regions of the Middle East and North Africa.

According to UN estimates, some 7.6 million people have been internally displaced in Syria and another 4 million are living as refugees outside the country as a result of the four-year-long civil war between the government and opposition forces.

Earlier Monday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said her country was welcoming the refugees with open arms.