With Border Blocked, Desperate Venezuelans Wonder How U.S. Aid Will Reach Them – Reuters

By Anggy Polanco and Nelson Bocanegra

URENA, Venezuela/CUCUTA, Colombia – Desperate Venezuelans are expressing concerns about how they will access U.S. food and medical aid set to arrive at the Colombia border, after President Nicolas Maduro’s government blocked the crossing to humanitarian shipments.

Amid increasing hunger and shortages of basic goods in Venezuela, Maduro has remained steadfast in rejecting U.S. assistance. His stance comes after the Trump administration recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan security forces obstructed the three-lane border crossing from Cucuta, Colombia, using shipping containers and a fuel tanker, with armed soldiers stationed at the customs building, ready to prevent any attempts to cross into Venezuela.

The Cucuta crossing was calm on Wednesday, but Colombian migration officials reduced their presence near the border amid rising tensions with Venezuela. Meanwhile, in Urena, the Venezuelan town on the border, locals have started unofficial waiting lists for aid.

"We’re desperate. Our money has no value. Maduro may oppose the help, but he should think about those who are starving," said Livia Vargas, 40, who added that she signed up for aid only to be informed that it wouldn’t work that way.

Cucuta, a major city along the border, has served as a transit point for approximately 3 million Venezuelans who have fled the country in recent years. Many cross the pedestrian bridges connecting Colombia and Venezuela each day, using temporary permits to shop for food.

International pressure is mounting on Maduro to step down as major nations in Europe joined the U.S., Canada, and various Latin American countries in recognizing Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader, following allegations that Maduro’s re-election last year was fraudulent.

Guaido, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, has called on the military to withdraw its support from Maduro and facilitate a transition to democracy.

U.S. officials have indicated that aid is en route this week, but Colombian and U.S. authorities have not disclosed how the aid will be distributed without Maduro’s consent.

Aid shipments are also anticipated from Venezuelan companies abroad, alongside contributions from Colombia, Canada, and Germany. Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo announced that planes carrying aid had arrived in Colombia and are currently undergoing processing for delivery to Cucuta, though details about the shipping locations and contents remain unclear.

Peeking through a gap in a fence meant to secure the area where U.S. humanitarian aid is set to be stored in Cucuta, Venezuelan Yesica Leonett called for information on how her four children could receive support. "People need help. My children eat boiled banana peels, shredded like meat," stated Leonett, 31, who escaped Venezuela eight months ago. "What a joy it would be to help my children. An even greater joy would be to see Maduro gone."

Police stationed on the Colombian side of the bridge report a significant number of Venezuelans inquiring about when and where they might receive aid. "We have no information to provide them. It’s heartbreaking to see their despair," said a patrol officer positioned near the border.

Colombia has welcomed over 1.1 million Venezuelans, with approximately 3,000 crossing the border each day. Officials estimate that this number could rise to 4 million by 2021 if the crisis in Venezuela continues.

"I want to believe this is the beginning of a new Venezuela, but having seen many opposition attempts fail, I am hesitant to have false hopes," shared Carmen Perez, 67, as she purchased eggs from a street vendor.