Guaido announces date for aid to enter Venezuela

Guaido, who declared himself acting president last month, announced the date at a rally by tens of thousands of opposition supporters to pressure the military to allow in the aid.

He asked the 250,000 people who signed up as volunteers to organise themselves over the weekend, “because we’re going to have to go in caravans.”

“We have almost 300,000 Venezuelans who will die if the aid doesn’t enter. There are almost two million at health risk,” said Guaido, recognised as Venezuela’s interim leader by 50 countries.

Maduro has denounced the aid as a US-orchestrated show to overthrow his socialist government and said it will not be let into the country. He has demanded instead that Washington lift economic sanctions.

On Tuesday, Guaido said he was issuing a “direct order” to the armed forces to allow the aid in, though so far there are not clear signs the military will disobey Maduro.

“It’s sure that the humanitarian aid will enter Venezuela because the usurper will have no choice but to leave Venezuela,” said Guaido, referring to Maduro, whom he deems illegitimate over his reelection last year in a poll widely viewed as fraudulent.

“It’s not the first time Venezuela is going to be liberated from a tyrant — it’s not the first time but we hope it will be the last,” added the National Assembly president.

Venezuelans have faced shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicines as the economy went into meltdown under Maduro’s leadership.

Some 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015, according to the United Nations.

Those left behind have faced failing public services while hyperinflation has left salaries and savings worthless.

“Here is a direct order to the armed forces: allow in the humanitarian aid once and for all (and) end the repression,” said Guaido, 35, who stunned the world on January 23 when he launched his challenge to Maduro’s authority by declaring himself acting president.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)