Maduro dictatorship refuses international humanitarian aid but accepts drugs from Cuba and China

The Minister of Health of Venezuela, Carlos Alvarado, reported Wednesday the arrival of 933 tons of drugs and medical equipment from Cuba and China – allies of the dictatorship by Nicolás Maduro-, of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and "some direct purchases" of the Ministry.

"Currently, we are receiving, they are already there, 64 containers with different types of drugs, these contain 933 tons of sanitary inputs," he said in a statement to the national channel VTV from the port of The Guaira, capital of the state of Vargas (north) and near Caracas.

Alvarado, who announced the arrival of these drugs at a time when Parliament is asking for humanitarian aid entry into the country in the face of the health sector crisis, said that Venezuela was receiving "regularly" drugs and medical equipment.

"It is not surprising that we received containers here in the port of La Guaira", commented by explaining that most of these drugs and materials" came from the agreement with Cuba "and from China.

He also pointed out that the ministry has made "direct purchases" on the international market "with these companies" which, he says, did not block them, because the Venezuelan government said that the US had imposed a blockade preventing them from buying medicine and food.

"There are also inputs from the Revolving Fund and the PAHO Strategic Fund."he added.

Alvarado explained that there were "more than 18 million units of drugs" in "anesthetics, vaccines, antibiotics, nutrients for pregnant women, antipyretics, painkillers, gastric protectors , physiological solutions ".

In addition, according to the Minister, 22,575 medical equipment replacement units, 192,000 diagnostic test kits and "more than 100,000 cytology kits" have arrived.

He badured that the investment of these drugs and materials amounted to about 25 million euros.

Venezuela, the country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world, is currently going through a difficult period. severe economic crisis that has led to shortages of medicines and food for more than four years.

The situation led to Parliament, of majority of opposition, declare the country in a humanitarian crisis, so he asked for help in that regard and they have now provided United States, Colombia and other countries.

However, Maduro -Which is going through a governance crisis when it was unknown in many countries of the world after being elected in a vote described as fraudulent- refuses to accept this aid on the grounds that it may give way to a foreign invasion, especially from the United States, which he accuses of wanting to steal the wealth of Venezuela.

Humanitarian aid requested by the President of Parliament, Juan Guaidó, who proclaimed himself acting president of the country in January after considering Maduro as an usurper, is stuck on the border with Colombia and the opposition has opted to ask the armed forces to allow their planned entry on 23 February.