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Cucuta, Colombia – Trucks carrying food and medical supplies from the United States arrived in Cucuta, on the border between Colombia and Venezuela, fueling tensions with President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas.
The arrival of Thursday's humanitarian convoy, jointly organized by the leaders of the US and Venezuelan opposition, came one day after Venezuela barricaded its own side of the border by vowing not to allow the government to take action. ;Entrance.
"We are not beggars," Maduro told the military earlier this week, dismissing the initiative as a ploy to humiliate Venezuela.
In the midst of uncertainties about the fate of the convoy, protesters at the entrance to the Tienditas Bridge welcomed the trucks by blowing trumpets and calling for a change in Venezuela, struck by the crisis. In a scrum of the press, some shouted "Maduro now".
Members of the Venezuelan opposition have also converged on Cucuta to help plan and execute aid delivery, in a calculated move considered a test of loyalty of the Venezuelan army in Maduro .
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/brought-venezuela-economy-ruin-190201152238535.html
Leader of the opposition Juan Guaido, the self-proclaimed interim president who has won recognition from the United States and from a number of other countries, asked for international badistance, saying it was essential in a country ravaged by a shortage of staple foods and medicines.
Maduro, which is backed by countries such as China, Russia and Turkey, has repeatedly denied the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
Venezuela's socialist economic system was severely affected by the collapse of world oil prices in 2014. Inflation has exploded and since 2016, more than three million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring countries due to A shortage of food and medicine in the country.
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| Luigi Rivas holds a sign saying "humanitarian aid now" at the Tienditas border bridge [Steven Grattan/Al Jazeera] |
At the Tienditas Bridge, Luigi Rivas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan migrant, brandished a cardboard sign with the words "humanitarian aid now".
"It's a cowardly action that he has done," Rivas told Al Jazeera, referring to the Maduro Bridge closure.
US officials have also criticized the decision, pledging to bring humanitarian aid to Venezuela as soon as security permits.
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, said Wednesday in an article published on Twitter that "the Venezuelan people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid" and that "the scheme must allow for the help of Reach the hungry people ".
The Venezuelan people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. The United States and other countries are trying to help, but #VenezuelaThe army under Maduro is blocking aid to trucks and tankers. The Maduro regime must allow aid to reach the poor. #EstamosUnidosVE pic.twitter.com/L4ysYJaM6H
– Pompeo Secretary (@SecPompeo) February 6, 2019
For its part, Maduro has stopped denouncing Washington's interference in Venezuelan affairs.
In an open letter to the White House on Thursday evening, the president said: "Your representatives want to spread the same hatred that you have sewn in Vietnam to your borders.You want to invade and intervene in Venezuela in the name of democracy and democracy. freedom, but that's not the case. "
Although the result of the planned delivery of aid is still unclear, the Colombian government has stated that the supplies would not be distributed in Colombia but in Venezuela, urging Venezuelans not to travel to Cucuta at the same time. search for this resource.
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| Venezuelans cross Simon Bolivar pedestrian bridge in Colombia to buy basic products [Steven Grattan/Al Jazeera] |
Meanwhile, the flow of Venezuelans entering neighboring Colombia via the main border post to buy basic supplies continued as usual Thursday.
More than 50,000 people travel to Cucuta every day and nearly 5,000 remain in Colombia, according to Colombian migration officials.
Many buy foods and medicines that are not available in Venezuela, then come back, while others use it as a first stop because they migrate elsewhere to Colombia or countries like Ecuador. and Peru.
While crossing with his wife and his brother, Julio Coronel said to have made this trip once a week to buy vegetables, flour, eggs and rice.
"It is essential", the 66 years of the state of Tachira says, about the need for help. "We are in an unbelievable crisis, but Maduro continues to say we are not, he is crazy and what he does should be illegal!"
The United Nations has appealed for a $ 738 million injection of funds this year to help Venezuela's neighbors cope with the mbadive exodus.
The regional plan of intervention for refugees and migrants has allocated $ 315 million to Colombia, $ 117 million to Ecuador, $ 106 million to Peru and $ 56 million to Brazil – the country hosting the largest number of Venezuelan migrants.
According to the United Nations, the call has received only $ 5 million so far.
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