2 people died and 300 suffered during an attempt to bring humanitarian aid from the US to Venezuela

The head of the Venezuelan parliament, Juan Guaido, whom the United States and many other countries have recognized as the country's legitimate interim president, called on world leaders to consider “any measures” to achieve the removal of President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Screenshot from Twitter / @ SecPompeo

The statement followed after police and military attempted to destroy a humanitarian aid convoy from Colombia, the United States and Brazil for Venezuelans, writes “Currently,".

On February 23, 10 trucks with 600 tons of humanitarian aid were sent to Venezuela across the Colombian border. Its delivery was prepared by the Organization of American States (OAS).

Guaydo and his supporters personally participated in an attempt to deliver humanitarian aid. But the National Guard, controlled by Maduro, set out cordons and began to destroy part of the aid. Two trucks with humanitarian supplies were set on fire, the rest returned to a warehouse in Colombia.

Video our WCK team bridge between Colombia and #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/WMAwJ03Nho

- WorldCentralKitchen (@WCKitchen) February 23, 2019

At the same time, people tried to break through the cordon and get to help, because of what the clashes occurred - the military sprayed tear gas and fired rubber bullets at the crowd. As a result, two people died, and another 285 people were injured, 37 of them were hospitalized.

Earlier, Nicolas Maduro has banned the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the country. He calls it an element of external pressure to overthrow his government. The power structures of Venezuela are still subject to Maduro.

Shows the GNB suppressing protestors in Santa Elena de Uairén#Venezuela #23F pic.twitter.com/4sZhpf6IbE

- CNW (@ConflictsW) February 24, 2019

Guaydo, which is now in Colombia, wrote in his microblog Twitterthat in the coming days he will meet with representatives of countries that supported him. To liberate the country, he wrote, a combination of “external and internal pressure” on the Maduro regime is necessary.

He also noted that part of the assistance still came to Venezuela by publishing a photo of the trucks.

Screenshot from Twitter / @ jguaido

On February 25, he is expected to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence, who the day before again supported the Venezuelan opposition. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would “take action” against “those who impede the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.” In addition, the US Secretary of State called Maduro’s actions in response to humanitarian aid supplies the act of a “sick tyrant,” writes CNN.

Nicolas Maduro, in turn, accused the Colombian authorities of supporting Guaydo, and announced the severance of diplomatic relations with this country, demanding that Colombian diplomats leave Venezuela.

The origins of the conflict

Venezuela is experiencing a protracted economic crisis. Many residents of the country believe that Maduro, who has been ruling the country since 2013, is responsible for him. There is hyperinflation in the country, people lack food and medicine, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans emigrated, writes with the BBC.

At the end of 2018, elections were held in Venezuela, which the opposition boycotted due to the refusal to allow its key candidates to come to them. As a result, Maduro won, but neither the opposition nor the majority of Latin American countries recognized his victory.

Mass protests began in the country - and in late January, Parliament Speaker Juan Guaydo declared himself provisional president during one of them. In this capacity, it was recognized by the United States, almost all South American countries and many European countries.

Maduro was supported by Russia, China, Turkey, as well as Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua. The Venezuelan president himself accused Guaido of working for the United States.

The opposition, led by Guaido, is trying to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela from countries that support him. In turn, Maduro is ready to accept help only from countries that, on the contrary, support him - primarily from Russia.

Maduro argues that under the guise of humanitarian aid, which was sent including the United States, they plan to import weapons into the country that the opposition can use. As a result, the military, remaining loyal to the president, refuse to let aid into the country.

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