International Red Cross says it will channel aid to Venezuela

Record ID: 1402411

  • Title: International Red Cross says it will channel aid to Venezuela
  • Date: 29th March 2019
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MARCH 29, 2019) (REUTERS) RED CROSS OFFICIALS ENTERING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES, FRANCESCO ROCCA, AT NEWS CONFERENCE OFFICIALS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES, FRANCESCO ROCCA, SAYING: "I can announce that the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, of which it's an honour to preside over, will have the legal and technical conditions to work in the country, so that much-needed humanitarian aid can arrive. Obviously this doesn't resolve the problems in Venezuela and no one should assume this is a complete solution." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES, FRANCESCO ROCCA, SAYING: "We expect that this will help up to 650,000 people. Our first objective is to hope to expand this in the near future." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES, FRANCESCO ROCCA, SAYING: "We believe that in 15 days we will be able to start providing the aid we have committed ourselves to." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES, FRANCESCO ROCCA, SAYING: "Cucuta and Brazil are issues that were politicised and we're going to have a look at the aid, to make sure that it complies with our rules, our protocols. Of course we are ready to distribute medical aid that is in Cucuta and Brazil."
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2019 21:22
  • Keywords: Caracas Cucuta Red Cross President Nicolas Maduro opposition leader Juan Guaido humanitarian aid Venezuela
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001A82SPXJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Friday (March 29) it was prepared to channel humanitarian aid to Venezuela through an operation that could be similar to one in Syria, potentially helping ease chronic hunger and disease in the South American nation.
    President Nicolas Maduro in February blocked efforts by political opponents to bring U.S.-backed aid into the country across its borders with neighbouring Colombia and Brazil, and has for years denied the country was suffering a humanitarian crisis.
    The involvement of the IFRC could signal that Maduro's socialist government, which has been subjected to crippling U.S. sanctions, may allow in much-needed food and medicine.
    Dozens of nations have recognised Juan Guaido, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, as the country's rightful leader, arguing Maduro's 2018 re-election was illegitimate. Guaido, who invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, led an unsuccessful effort to transport humanitarian aid into Venezuela from neighboring Colombia and Brazil on Feb. 23.
    The IFRC "can count on the legal and technical conditions to work in the country, to gain access to humanitarian aid that is so needed," the group's President Francesco Rocca told a press conference. "This obviously will not resolve the problems in Venezuela and nobody should assume this is a complete solution."
    The group within 15 days could begin providing assistance, and expects that it will initially be able to help 650,000 of the most needy citizens in the country of around 30 million inhabitants, he said.
    The first supplies would include medical equipment, surgical kits and power generators, Rocca said, following two major blackouts this month.
    Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
    The country's hyperinflationary crisis has made food and medicine unaffordable for most citizens, fueling widespread malnutrition, especially among children, and a rise in diseases that are preventable.
    The Red Cross said it would not be involved in distributing that medication.
    During the opposition's February effort to bring aid in, troops loyal to Maduro repelled the U.S.-backed convoys, saying they were part of a veiled invasion led by Washington.
    China, which has major oil investments in the country, continues to back Maduro and has offered to help his government improve the power supply.
    (Production: Herbert Avillarraga / Paul Vieira)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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