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Several trucks of food and medicine are now in a collection center in Cucuta, Colombia.
The first US aid trucks to Venezuela arrived in the border town of Cucuta, Colombia.
The vehicles are currently parked near the Tienditas bridge, which remains blocked by Venezuelan troops.
President Nicolás Maduro, who has the support of the army, refused to let him enter the country.
Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself acting president, warned that many Venezuelans were at risk of dying without international help.
- The bridge of despair
- Why the army supports Maduro
Guaidó is the head of the National Assembly of Venezuela and declares that the constitution allows him to badume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.
It has gained the support of more than 40 countries, including the United States and most of the countries of Latin America and Europe. Mr. Maduro still has the support of China and Russia.
In other developments:
- The United States has announced new sanctions for members of the Maduro administration, stating that visas for members of the government-controlled Constituent Assembly would be revoked.
- European and Latin American members of the so-called international contact group said it was crucial to restore full democracy in Venezuela and said they would lobby for new elections as soon as possible.
What is the latest news on US humanitarian aid?
On Thursday, several trucks of food and medicine arrived at a collection center in Cucuta.
The vehicles were escorted by Colombian police motorcycles.
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AFP / Getty Images
The Venezuelan army has placed a tanker truck on the Tienditas border bridge
The way in which humanitarian aid would be routed across the border was unclear.
The Venezuelan army had previously placed containers and a tanker on the Tienditas bridge, which connects Cúcuta to the city of Ureña in Venezuela.
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Maduro refused foreign aid supplies, saying they would pave the way for US military intervention.
He stated that "no one would come in, not an invading soldier".
At the same time, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Venezuela to reopen the bridge, saying that "the Maduro regime must allow help reach hungry populations".
- The groups' colectivo & # 39; supporting Maduro
A number of Venezuelan leaders also called on the military to allow the pbadage of relief trucks into the country.
How could the help plan work?
Guaidó does not control any territory in Venezuela and therefore plans to set up collection centers in neighboring countries where Venezuelans have fled.
He said that he wanted to create an international coalition to collect help in three points, and press the Venezuelan army to let him enter the country.
In a tweet last Sunday, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said plans were advanced.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump said in an interview that the use of military force remained "an option".
In his Tuesday address on the state of the Union, he reiterated his support for Mr. Guaidó, stating: "We support the Venezuelan people in its noble pursuit of freedom".
What is the context of the crisis?
Venezuela has been suffering from economic turmoil for years, with hyperinflation and scarcity of basic necessities such as food and medicine. Millions have fled.
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In January, Mr. Maduro was sworn in for a second term following contested elections that many opposition leaders did not dispute because they were in jail or the boycotted.
Mr. Guaidó, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, declared himself President on 23 January.
He says the constitution allows him to badume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. On Saturday, he said the demonstrations would continue until his supporters achieved "freedom."
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