Insider
International Politics
paying the price for
the tensions between
Venezuela and the
US, originating from
Chavez’s rise to pow-
er, and recently get-
ting worse after Pres-
ident Trump named
Guaidó (the opposi-
tion to Maduro) as
the Venezuelan presi-
dent instead of Madu-
ro in January 2019.
The US claims to
have sent humanitar-
ian aid in the form of
$20 million worth of
food and medical
supplies; however
this has been blocked
by Maduro after he
said it was only ‘a
plot to meddle in his
country’s internal af-
fairs’.
How exactly are
the people of Vene-
zuela suffering?
Inflation reached
1 million percent
last year, The In-
ternational Mone-
tary Fund has
forecast it will be
10 million percent
At the moment
there are over 3
million immigrants
and refugees from
Venezuela fleeing
the country, the
UN estimates this
number will be
5.3 million by the
end of 2019, a
close comparison
to the Syrian refu-
gee crisis
They can´t find
jobs and won’t be
granted any in
Colombia as tem-
porary visas are
now banned; if
they get to Co-
lombia they´re
lucky if they make
$2 a day.
However Venezuelans
may have a glimmer of
hope, through the can-
didate Guidó.
A Venezuelan citizen
says “I’m willing to par-
ticipate peacefully in all
calls made by President
Guaidó that require sup-
port. I’m willing to col-
laborate voluntarily in
protecting and distrib-
uting humanitarian aid
to the most needy peo-
ple.” Spirit and determi-
nation is what the peo-
ple require at this time,
facing the worst eco-
nomical collapse outside
of war in decades.
Recently, on the 14th of
May, Amnesty Interna-
tional urged the Inter-
national Criminal Court
to investigate the Vene-
zuelan authorities,
Venezue-
lans cross-
ing the bor-
der to Co-
lombia
“I’m willing
to collabo-
rate volun-
tarily in
protecting
and distrib-
uting hu-
manitarian
aid to the
most needy
people.”
claiming they have
committed crimes
against humanity
during the crack-
down on protesting.
Amnesty stated
"The nature of the
attacks… leads Am-
nesty International
to believe that the
Venezuelan authori-
ties committed cri-
mes against huma-
nity,".
The world must
wake up to an ongo-
ing tragedy such as
this. Aid is difficult
to get into Venezue-
la however charities
are accepting dona-
tions to help. You
can donate to Save
the Children, who
are providing hy-
giene kits, water
and additional aid to
Venezuelan mi-
grants in Colombia.
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