Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido announced his team delivered the first cargo of humanitarian aid which was being held at the border during a public fight with President Nicolas Maduro, according to Reuters.
Guaido, who a majority of Western countries now recognize as Venezuela's legitimate president, did not specify how he received the aid delivery but tweeted a photo of himself standing with stacks of vitamin and nutritional supplements.
“Today we delivered the first donation, or the first cargo of humanitarian aid, albeit on a small scale, because you know they have blocked the border for the time being,” Guaido, 35, said in televised remarks in Caracas on Monday evening about the humanitarian aid, but did not say where or who the aid came from..
A number of Western nations, corporations, and organizations have been attempting to deliver aid to Venezuela which is in the midst of compounding political and economic crises.
More than 2 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015 due to widespread food insecurity, hyperinflation, crime rates, unemployment, and more reasons while Maduro solidified his grip on power by cracking down on the opposition and establishing his own legislative super-body.
During the crisis, Venezuelans have suffered from widespread malnutrition and preventable diseases due to medicine shortages.
Maduro refused to accept the humanitarian aid, claiming it was a "show" on behalf of the United States to orchestrate a reason to overthrow him.
President Donald Trump issued a statement last month which recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader in Venezuela.
Guaido has argued Maduro's re-election last year a sham due to widespread voter intimidation and the punishments handed to many opposition candidates, who staged a boycott after many popular politicians were barred from running.
Washington said last week it was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid supplies to Venezuela, and according to Colombian officials were among the first delivered to the collection point in the border town of Cucuta.
Guaido called on the Venezuelan military to allow the aid to pass the border previously said the donations would be collected in Brazil and the Caribbean.
Reuters spoke with leaders of the indigenous Pemon community who control the only paved road that crosses the border into Brazil said they were committed to letting the aid pass through if it does arrive.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Fernando Llano
