Red Cross announces aid delivery to Venezuela as White House warns Russia over troop deployment
The Red Cross has announced that it plans next month to bring aid to 650,000 Venezuelan people, attempting to push through the blockade imposed by President Nicolas Maduro and alleviate immense suffering.
Francesco Rocca, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said on Friday that his organisation would bring in supplies, handing them out to those most in need.
He insisted that his aid delivery was not partisan, and would be distributed fairly. Mr Maduro's government will only issue help to those with a "carnet de patria" - an agreement swearing allegiance to his government.
Mr Rocca said the Red Cross must be allowed to work without "interference from anyone".
"The distribution has to be neutral," he added.
Mr Maduro has not yet responded to the announcement.
As the Red Cross were unveiling their plan, he was preparing to welcome a plane full of Chinese aid, arriving at the main Caracas airport.
His rival for the presidency, Juan Guaido, also announced at the same time that he, too, would be bringing aid into the country - but did not specify how. A previous attempt, on February 23, ended in failure with the aid going up in flames and four people dying.
"In the next hours, in the next days, we'll be receiving important medical aid to contain this tragedy," said Mr Guaido.
He said that Venezuelans should stay vigilant to make sure the aid is not diverted for "corrupt" purposes.
Elliot Abrams, US president Donald Trump's envoy to Venezuela, welcomed the Red Cross' announcement, noting it was the first time such an agreement had been reached.
“We think this is great," he said, speaking at the state department. "Because our problem so far has been that the regime politicises the aid, only giving it to people who have the 'carnet de patria'.
“The United States would be very happy to give some of our aid towards this.
“I think the international community is ready and anxious to do more to help the people in Venezuela.”
Mr Abrams also warned Russia to stop supporting Mr Maduro, who is clinging to power after his re-election last year in a vote widely deemed fraudulent.
At the weekend two Russian air force planes carrying nearly 100 military personnel landed at the country's main international airport. Mr Abrams said the US believes they are there to repair damaged Soviet-made S300 missile systems, which were knocked out in the blackouts that have plagued the country since early March.
He said Russia should not underestimate US resolve to see Mr Guaido installed as the Venezuelan leader.
"We have options, and it would be a mistake for the Russians to think they have a free hand," he said.
Mr Trump earlier this week said "Russia has to get out" of Venezuela and said "all options" were open to force Russia to do so.
His national security adviser John Bolton issued a second warning on Friday in a strongly worded formal statement.
"We strongly caution actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the Hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations," he said.
"We will consider such provocative actions as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region. We will continue to defend and protect the interests of the United States, and those of our partners in the Western Hemisphere."
