VENEZUELA

Opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for aid distribution. Moreover, Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro has refused its entry to Venezuela 72 hours ago

The United States of American military planes carrying humanitarian aid for Venezuelans have landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro refuses to allow aid to enter the country. The   food and medicines are therefore being stored at Columbian border city of Cucuta.

High-energy food products were among the Saturday’s 180-tonne shipment. There are also hygiene kits of soap, toothpaste and other goods for more than 25,000 people.

AID SHIPMENT NOT SINCERE GIFT

President Maduro alleges the aid shipments are another plot by the US and its allies to unseat his government. Maduro alleged US will use the aid as a plot to back opposition leader Juan Guaido. Juan had declared himself interim president last month.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters in eastern Caracas on Saturday, Guaido vowed to form caravans of activists. The activists will reach the border and bring aid in the country on February 23.

President Maduro also called for people to gather in cities across the country to receive the aid. He also called for the armed forces to allow its entry.

Venezuela is in the throes of an economic crisis.  Above all hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine are enveloping Venezuela.

“This wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last,” said USAID administrator Mark Green, standing on the tarmac in Cucuta at a ceremony to receive the aid. “More is on the way.”

“We are saving lives with these aeroplanes,” said Lestor Toledo, an exiled politician who is coordinating the international aid effort for Guaido.

Maduro has been using the military, which remains loyal, to help him block aid from entering Venezuela. He describes it as “crumbs” from a US government whose restrictions have stripped his administration of control over many of its most valuable assets.

Critics of Maduro say his re-election last year was fraudulent. However, this makes the president’s second term illegitimate.

“They hang us, steal our money and then say ‘here, grab these crumbs.” And make a global show out of it,” Maduro told Associated Press news agency on Thursday.

“With dignity, we say ‘No to the global show,’ Whoever wants to help Venezuela is welcome, but we have enough capacity to pay for everything that we need.”

His vice president has alleged, without evidence, that the aid packages are contaminated. Green on Saturday called the allegations “absurd”.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Saturday that the US used military aircraft to send aid to the Venezuela. Which are at the border in Colombia because of the urgency of the humanitarian needs.

“It’s a message to Venezuela that we are supporting their humanitarian needs,” Shanahan told reporters.

Many of Venezuela’s neighbours and a host of western countries have recognised Guaido as the legitimate head of state. Meanwhile, Maduro retains the backing of Russia and China and control of Venezuelan state institutions.

The US has placed Venezuela’s US assets, including oil company Citgo, under Guaido’s control. US also banned financial transactions by Maduro-controlled entities.

Scores of Venezuelan officials also face personal financial sanctions in the US.

Source: Aljazeera.com