US to send $2.5 million in humanitarian aid to Colombia to aid Venezuelan refugees

[GatoGordo]

NATIONAL NEWSMARCH 20, 2018 / 9:19 / 11 HOURS AGO
The US will provide 2.5 million dollars to help Venezuelans in Colombia
Reuters Editorial

By Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it will provide 2.5 million dollars for food and medicine to support Venezuelans who have emigrated to neighboring Colombia.

"Together with Colombia, this initial and immediate commitment of 2.5 million dollars will provide emergency food and health assistance for vulnerable Venezuelans and the Colombian communities that are receiving them," said Mark Green, administrator of the United States Agency. for International Development (USAID) in a press release.

The aid is the first financing that USAID gives for Colombia to deal with the income of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the crisis in their country.

"Unfortunately, the crisis in Venezuela, which is now being transferred to the region, is the work of man: the result of sustained political mismanagement and the corruption of the regime of (President Nicolás) Maduro," Green accused.

The United States imposed sanctions against Maduro and other members of his government for accusations of corruption and for repressing opponents.

On Monday, Washington blocked the use of Venezuelan cryptocurrency and said it is exploring options to impose sanctions on the oil sector.

The arrival of Venezuelans to Colombia shot up 62 percent in the second half of last year. The country, which receives the most Venezuelans, estimates a cost of $ 5 a day to provide shelter and food to each migrant.

https://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTAKBN1GW1WV-OUSLD

Maduro would gladly accept the $2.5 million (cash, please!), but not the humanitarian aid. Because there is no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Only vile Western propaganda. Plenty of everything in Venezuela. Except food. Medicine. Electricity. Oil (in the nation with the worlds largest proven reserves of oil!) To accept aid would be to admit that Chavismo is an epic failure.

[Bacchus4.0]

1. The US and Colombia are Venezuela's largest trading partners. Colombia and US providing aid

to Venezuelans and also the two countries Maduro blames for chavismo's failure.

[GatoGordo]

2. Defies logic, eh?

Lets hope that the $2.5 million is enough to save a few lives in the short term. If Chavismo holds out much longer, its going to get very ugly and very expensive.

Colombia doesn't have the resources, and I fear that US humanitarian aid is going to have to be doled out by US troops, as Maduro is more than willing to send his minions across the border to steal or swindle from the corruptible any food/medicine and bring them back across the border.