Cucuta (Colombia): The US military airlifted tons of aid to a Colombian town on the Venezuelan border, Saturday as part of an effort meant to undermine socialist President Nicolas Maduro and back his rival to leadership of the South American nation.
Two of three scheduled Air Force C-17 cargo planes that took off from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida have landed here.
That border city, swollen by a flood of migrants from Venezuela, is a collection point for aid that’s supposed to be distributed by supporters of Juan Guaido, the Congressional leader who is recognised by the US and many other nations as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
“This wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last,” said USAID administrator Mark Green, standing on the tarmac here at a ceremony to receive the aid. “More is on the way.”
Commercial planes had been used for earlier shipments of aid, which is aimed at dramatising the economic crisis — including hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine — gripping Venezuela.
Critics say last year’s re-election was fraudulent, making Maduro’s second term illegal. “We are saving lives with these airplanes,” said Lestor Toledo, an exiled politician who is coordinating the international aid effort for Guaido.
Maduro has been using the military, which remains loyal, to help him block the aid from entering Venezuela, describing it as ‘crumbs’ from a US government whose restrictions have stripped his administration of control over many of its most valuable assets.
“They hang us, steal our money and then say ‘here, grab these crumbs’ and make a global show out of it,” Maduro had told this agency, Thursday.
“With dignity we say ‘No to the global show.’ Whoever wants to help Venezuela is welcome, but we have enough capacity to pay for everything that we need,” added the man in power.
Saturday’s 180-ton shipment includes high-energy food products or hygiene kids of soap, toothpaste and other goods for more than 25,000 people.
The US and widespread European recognition of Guaido complicates Maduro’s efforts to find funds to keep his government, and its own food programmes, running.
The US has placed Venezuela’s US assets, including oil company ‘Citgo’, under Guaido’s control.
AP