generalspeaking

Saturday, February 09, 2019

Venezuelan Impasse

"The United States is pre-positioning relief items -- including food, nutritional supplements, hygiene kits and medical supplies -- in Colombia so they are available to reach those most in need in Venezuela, as soon as possible."
U.S.official

"We are absolutely ready to resist if the government does not allow the aid to enter."
"The people will not hesitate to take to the streets and even take up arms if we have to."
"There is no doubt they will deploy the army, but they are on our side. They won't fire on their own people."
Unay Bayona, chef, youth worker, Urena, Venezuela

"These guys [colectivo, armed militia with the government] say they're promoting socialism, but they're only interested in violence and making money."
"They will definitely be ready for any trouble that comes."
Kiki, 40, Urena, Venezuela (last name withheld for fear of reprisal)

"This government is full of lies and corruption. Look what they've done to the economy."
"It's the workers who suffer most, but we are ready to fight back."
Jorge Gonzalez, 63, production line worker

"This is aid we desperately need. People are dying here."
"We're ready to defend the town again and remove whatever they have on that bridge."
Lucero Varela, activist, Women in White, Urena

Trucks with humanitarian aid meant to be driven into Venezuela are stopped at the Colombian border, between Cucuta, Colombia and Urena, Venezuela. Access into Venezuela has been denied, though Venezuela's opposition leaders have vowed the relief supplies will be brought into the country. In the meanwhile, semi-trailers loaded with boxed emergency food and medicine sit, waiting. Opposition leader Juan Guaido asked for international assistance for his country wracked with shortages of the most basic goods and foodstuffs.

Human rights activists stand at the gated entrance to the Tienditas International Bridge on the Colombian side, demanding that contested President Nicolas Maduro remove the fuel tanker and shipping containers the Venezuelan military placed blocking the millions in U.S.-funded relief supplies meant for desperate civilians in Venezuela. Residents in Urena claim to be prepared to themselves turn on the security forces if they continue to refuse entry to the relief supplies with its sixty tonnes of food and medicine.

Urena, a border town known for its production of jeans is also the town where most of those factories are silent, empty of workers, symbolic of the economic decline and hyperinflation in Venezuela. Venezuelans come to Urena from elsewhere all over the country to do their shopping across the border in Colombia where food and products are still affordable and stores are well stocked. According to the IMF, inflation in Venezuela is headed toward 10 million percent this year.

Should the blockade remain impassable, it will give Maduro proof that his troops remain loyal to him. If the aid manages to enter Venezuela it will serve as an admission that legitimizes the authority that Guaido, supported by over 40 countries, claims to be vested in him as head of the National Assembly, negating the irregular election outcome that saw Maduro re-invested to the power of the presidency.

In Venezuela's capital, long lines form outside pharmacies by people hoping that among the dwindling supplies of medicines they will be able to obtain the life-affirming medications they or their relatives require to deal with chronic conditions and illnesses. "This is a criminal act" Javier Rondon asserted of the regime blocking international aid, waiting himself for an antibiotic for his five year-old daughter's lung infection. Jose Betancourt, 70, waited for an anti-inflammatory medication.

In Urena, a carton of 30 eggs comes at a price of 14,000 bolivars, a kilogram of cheese, 20,000 bolivars where the monthly miminum wage is 18,000 bolivars. Luis Escobar now living in Colombia after fleeing Venezuela explained his wife has advanced breast cancer, unable to obtain treatment in Venezuela so by the time they saw a doctor in Colombia her cancer had progressed. "I am here because, unfortunately, my wife is going to die. But today I am here for Venezuelans who are suffering the same as my wife. The world has to know about this."