They emphasize the crude that Maduro provides to Cuba

WASHINGTON – In a new series of revenue rounds of the Chavez regime and its main outside ally, US Vice President Mike Pence announced yesterday that his country would sanction 34 vessels of the national oil company

Venezuela

PDVSA and two companies that send Venezuelan crude to

Cuba

.

"We are taking action against a vital source of wealth from the regime of

Nicolás Maduro

. Follow the orders of the president [Donald] Trump, the United States will punish 34 vessels owned or operated by PDVSA, as well as two other companies carrying Venezuelan crude oil to Cuba, "said Pence in Houston, Texas.

"Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people!", He declared with applause.

Washington has highlighted shipments to Cuba, with the dual purpose of also cutting a crucial supply for the communist government of the island.

"The Treasury is taking action against ships and oil transporting entities, providing a lifeline to keep Maduro's illegitimate regime afloat," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement.

"Cuba continues to benefit and support the illegitimate regime of Maduro through repressive oil regimes while trying to keep Maduro in power," the minister added.

The United States and most Western countries have recognized the leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

At the request of Washington, the UN Security Council will meet next Wednesday to badyze the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

"The United States will urge the world to reject the failed Maduro regime, support the Venezuelan people and help us end the humanitarian crisis," said Mr. Pence.

"Maduro's tyranny must end and must end soon," he said.

A UN internal report last week ensured that 24% of the Venezuelan population (about seven million people) needed urgent humanitarian badistance because of its lack of access to the food and medicine.

According to UN estimates, some 3.7 million people suffer from malnutrition in the country, three times more than in the period 2010-2012, and at least 22% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.

The World Bank said yesterday that Venezuela was going through "the worst crisis in modern history in the region" and expects GDP contraction of 25% this year, after the collapse of 17.7% in 2018.

AFP and Reuters agencies