24 February
Venezuela's political opposition has initiated efforts to move humanitarian aid into the South American country from its neighbors -- Colombia and Brazil.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido entered the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Saturday. He received a US supply of food and medicine from Colombian President Ivan Duque. Guaido, who is the National Assembly leader and self-declared interim president, said his supporters will start delivering aid into Venezuela.
He reiterated his call for Venezuelan border troops to accept the aid delivery and defect from the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido said the supply will be delivered by one million civilians, who applied on the Internet to engage in the task. He said some aid has already been brought into Venezuela from Brazil.
Civilians calling for the acceptance of aid supplies have clashed with Venezuelan troops near the border with Colombia. In a supportive Twitter post, US President Donald Trump said, "God bless the people of Venezuela!"
Maduro gave a speech in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, repeating his objection to the aid delivery. He accused the US of trying to conduct a military invasion under the cover of a humanitarian aid effort.—NHK
