Venezuelas Guaido vows to bring in aid next week
AFP, Caracas
Venezuelas opposition leader Juan Guaido told tens of thousands of supporters on Tuesday that desperately-needed humanitarian aid would be brought into the country on February 23, despite opposition from President Nicolas Maduro.
Its sure that the humanitarian aid will enter Venezuela because the usurper will have no choice but to leave Venezuela, said self-proclaimed acting president Guaido.
US aid has been piling up in Colombia at the border with crisis-hit Venezuela but until now the bridge border crossing has been barricaded by the military, under Maduros orders. We have almost 300,000 Venezuelans who will die if the aid doesnt enter. There are almost two million at health risk, said Guaido, recognized by 50 countries after declaring himself as Venezuelas interim leader.
Taking his authority from the constitution, National Assembly leader Guaido considers Maduro illegitimate following his reelection last year in a poll widely viewed as fraudulent.
Guaido is trying to force the socialist leader from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections.
Venezuelans have faced shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine as the economy collapsed under Maduro. Some 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled since 2015, as hyperinflation rendered salaries and savings worthless. Maduro denies there is a humanitarian emergency and has branded the crisis a political show and pretext for a US-led invasion.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the US against all interference in Venezuelas domestic affairs including the use of force threatened by Washington and which is in violation of international law.
