Guaido pledges to get aid into Venezuela
CARACAS: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido yesterday told a huge rally of supporters humanitarian aid would enter the country on February 23, setting the stage for a showdown with President Nicolas Maduro who has refused to let supplies in.
Tens of thousands of protesters had taken to the streets to demand Maduro allow aid into Venezuela, where food and medicine shortages are rife.
Guaido invoked a constitutional provision to assume the presidency three weeks ago, arguing Maduro’s reelection last year was a sham. Most Western countries, including the United States, have recognised Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state, but Maduro retains the backing of Russia and China as well as control of state institutions, including the military.
An aid convoy supplied by the US and Colombia arrived in the Colombian border town of Cucuta last week, where it is being held in warehouses. A Venezuelan opposition envoy has also said Brazil’s Government would try to get humanitarian aid to the border.
Guaido said yesterday he was issuing a ‘‘direct order’’ to the armed forces to allow the aid in, though so far there are not clear signs the military would disobey Maduro. Guaido said the Opposition would go in a convoy to safeguard the supplies.
‘‘Put yourselves on the side of the constitution, but also on the side of humanity,’’ Guaido said, in a message for the military.
‘‘February 23 will be the day for the humanitarian aid to enter Venezuela, so from today we will have to get organised.’’ — Reuters