Venezuela aid stand-off

Billionaire Richard Branson backs musical concert for food and medical assistance

TENSIONS along the Colombia-Venezuela border over the entry of aid meant to alleviate widespread food and medicine shortages in the socialist country was accompanied by music yesterday, as rival concerts kicked off on both sides of the boundary.

British billionaire Richard Branson is backing “Venezuela Aid Live” in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, where he and 35 artists hope to raise $100 million for food and medical aid.

Some 250 000 people were expected at the free event, which features performances by Alejandro Sanz, Maluma, Luis Fonsi and Carlos Vives. Donations will be received online and via direct deposits.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro, who denies any crisis in his country, is planning two shows near Cucuta on the Tienditas and Simon Bolivar border bridges that connect Venezuela and Colombia.

Saying help is not needed, Maduro has refused to allow international aid into Venezuela despite often-empty supermarket shelves, long lines for government-subsidised food and hospitals lacking in basic supplies and medicines.

Political turmoil and economic collapse including hyperinflation have set Venezuela on a downward spiral.

The Tienditas event will take place near a Colombian warehouse storing hundreds of tons of international humanitarian aid that the opposition aims to bring into Venezuela today.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognised as Venezuela’s legitimate leader by dozens of countries, left Caracas in a caravan of supporters on Thursday, vowing to ensure personally the aid enters Venezuela.

Guaido, who invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency last month and who denounces Maduro as an usurper, has not provided details on his plans. Some political analysts speculated Venezuelan soldiers may bar the way.

Colombia’s migration authority said in a statement on Thursday it would restrict border crossings today from 5am until midnight to people participating in the aid handover.

A border showdown could test the military’s loyalty to Maduro if troops are ordered to turn aid away, analysts said.

In Cucuta, residents are wary of what may happen and many say they will stay indoors, away from possible trouble.

“Everyone’s on edge about what’s going to happen,” said Carolina Guzman, 38, who owns a restaurant.

“The important thing is that the aid gets across and things start to change there so we can get back to normal here too.”

Branson said this week he hoped the concert would encourage Venezuelan soldiers to defy orders from Maduro and let humanitarian aid cross the border.

Opposition figures have suggested forming human chains, while Brazil’s government pledged to deliver aid in trucks driven by Venezuelans.

“I don’t think the military will let the aid in, “said Venezuelan Eduardo Bustillos.|