U.S. Provides Aid to Colombia-Venezuela Border; Maduro Rejects Assistance, Reports Reuters

By Lesley Wroughton and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON – U.S. officials reported on Tuesday that food and medicine have been sent to Colombia’s border with Venezuela, but it remains uncertain how this humanitarian aid will bypass the obstacles imposed by President Nicolas Maduro, who has previously blocked such shipments.

An official familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the aid is being prepositioned at the main border crossing between Colombia and Venezuela in Cucuta. Trucks carrying high-protein foods are expected to arrive in Cucuta this week, following a request from Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela last month.

Opposition legislator Miguel Pizarro informed reporters in Caracas on Tuesday that Guaido’s team would provide further guidance on the shipping of aid once it is established in Cucuta. Shipments are also coming from Venezuelan companies operating abroad, as well as from Colombia, Canada, and Germany. Humanitarian groups, including Caritas, a Catholic organization, have urged authorities to allow the aid to enter.

Prepositioning humanitarian aid in warehouses or truck convoys at border posts for extended periods is common while negotiations for safe passage are ongoing. Franklin Graham, the head of the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, remarked that until humanitarian groups gain access to Venezuela, most of the aid will likely remain at the border.

Graham expressed uncertainty about how the aid could enter the country without a political change, noting the challenges in delivering assistance. Samaritan’s Purse has operated in Cucuta for three years, providing food, medicine, and backpacks to Venezuelans crossing into Colombia. However, he described the small amount of aid that has managed to enter Venezuela as "a drop in the bucket" compared to the vast needs.

He called for the Venezuelan government to open the borders and facilitate the entry of aid, stating, "Open the borders and let food convoys come into your country, open up your airports and let food flights fly in."

Rising Pressure on Maduro

Pressure is increasing on Maduro to resign, particularly after a group of over a dozen European Union countries, including Britain, Germany, and France, recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, joining the United States, Canada, and several Latin American nations in this stance. In contrast, Russia, China, and Turkey continue to support Maduro, accusing Western nations of interfering in Venezuela’s internal matters.

Guaido, 35, who leads Venezuela’s National Assembly, has been rallying the opposition with a hopeful message, consistently urging the military—loyal to Maduro—to embrace a transition to democracy. The U.S. may consider seeking approval from the United Nations Security Council to deliver aid without Maduro’s cooperation, although such a move may be blocked by Russia.

Maduro has firmly rejected foreign aid, asserting, "We are not beggars. You want to humiliate Venezuela, and I will not let our people be humiliated." His administration, during a period of severe economic decline that has driven 3 million Venezuelans to flee, condemned the EU for recognizing Guaido, accusing them of submitting to an American strategy aimed at overthrowing his government.

On Tuesday, the Cucuta crossing appeared relatively calm, although the city has been overwhelmed by the influx of migrants. Thousands cross the pedestrian bridge daily, carrying suitcases and plastic bags. One young woman, Carolina Rozo, stated, "Maduro doesn’t want help. He wants us to be poor. We have to come to buy food because we cannot even get cooking oil and eggs in Venezuela."

Many of those who migrate to Cucuta are among Venezuela’s poorest individuals. Others travel to various cities in Colombia or continue on to Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.

Experts note that Maduro’s control over the military and territorial governance will complicate the delivery of aid. Jeremy Konyndyk, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, emphasized that if the intent is to alleviate suffering, it is essential to consider how to effectively navigate the existing power structure in Venezuela.