2019 shipping of humanitarian aid to Venezuela#Colombian border

{{further|Shortages in Venezuela}}

The National Assembly of Venezuela, with an opposition majority, declared a "humanitarian health crisis" on 24 January 2016, in view of "the serious shortage of medicines, medical supplies and deterioration of the humanitarian infrastructure", demanding from the government of Nicolás Maduro "guarantee immediately access to the list of essential medicines that are basic, indispensable and imprescindible and must be accessible at all times".{{Cite news|title=Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela declara "crisis humanitaria de salud" por escasez de medicamentos|trans-title=National Assembly of Venezuela declares "humanitarian health crisis" due to shortage of medicines|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/01/160125_venezuela_crisis_humanitaria_medicinas|date=27 January 2016|access-date=20 February 2019|publisher=BBC Mundo|language=es}}

In a September 2017 Al Jazeera interview with president of the Constituent Assembly Delcy Rodríguez, she stated, "I have denied and continue denying that Venezuela has a humanitarian crisis". As a result, international intervention in Venezuela would not be justified. She also described statements by Venezuelans calling for international assistance as "treasonous".{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2017/09/delcy-rodriguez-humanitarian-crisis-venezuela-170907060655166.html|title=Delcy Rodriguez: No humanitarian crisis in Venezuela|date=9 September 2017|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909212018/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2017/09/delcy-rodriguez-humanitarian-crisis-venezuela-170907060655166.html|url-status=dead}}

On 18 October 2018, the United States sent the USNS Comfort hospital ship to South America to assist those affected by the Venezuelan refugee crisis.{{cite web|url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/el-mundo/buque-hospital-de-eeuu-para-migrantes-venezolanos-llego-america-latina-articulo-818531|title=Buque hospital de EE.UU. para migrantes venezolanos llegó a América Latina|trans-title=US hospital ship for Venezuelan migrants arrived in Latin America|newspaper=El Espectador|language=es|date=17 October 2018|access-date=20 February 2019}} The main goal was to relieve health systems in neighboring countries which faced the arrival of thousands of Venezuelan migrants.{{Cite news |last=Luzi|first=Iacopo|title=USNS Comfort Hospital Ship on Humanitarian Mission in South America|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/usns-comfort-hospital-ship-on-humanitarian-mission-in-south-america/4608890.html|work=Voice of America|access-date=7 November 2018}}
* {{cite web|author=Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/18/usns-comfort-us-navy-hospital-ship-venezuelan-refugees-tension |title=US navy hospital ship stokes tensions by giving Venezuelan refugees free care | US news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 November 2018 |access-date=10 December 2018}}
* {{cite web|url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/10/23/special-report-enduring-promise/|title=Special Report: Enduring Promise|first=U. S.|last=Navy|website=Navy Live|access-date=10 December 2018}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/1650011/hospital-ship-to-depart-norfolk-oct-11-for-enduring-promise-mission-in-latin-am/|title=Hospital ship to depart Norfolk Oct. 11 for Enduring Promise mission i|website=U.S. Southern Command|access-date=10 December 2018}} Three months later on 29 January 2019, the United States announced its intention to open a humanitarian corridor in Venezuela.{{cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/venezuela/estados-unidos-evalua-abrir-corredor-humanitario-venezuela-donald-trump-juan-guaido-noticia-nndc-602424|title=Estados Unidos evalúa abrir un corredor humanitario en Venezuela|trans-title=United States evaluates opening a humanitarian corridor in Venezuela|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es|date=29 January 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}

In a February 2019 BBC News interview with correspondent Orla Guerin, President Maduro has stated that "Venezuela is not a country of famine. It has very high levels of nutrients and access to food". He also claimed that the United States was intending to create a humanitarian crisis in order to justify a military intervention there.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-47213772|title=Nicolás Maduro en entrevista con la BBC: "El Ku Klux Klan que hoy gobierna la Casa Blanca quiere apoderarse de Venezuela"|date=12 February 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=12 February 2019|language=es}} Joint studies shared that same month by ENCOVI, a group of researchers from Andrés Bello Catholic University, Central University of Venezuela and Simón Bolívar University, showed that in Venezuelan households, multidimensional poverty affected 51%, 80% suffered from food insecurity and 90% did not have an income to purchase any food.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/28/la-inseguridad-alimentaria-afecta-a-80-de-los-hogares-en-venezuela/|title=La inseguridad alimentaria afecta a 80% de los hogares en Venezuela|date=28 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=28 February 2019}}

On 2 February 2019, Juan Guaidó, the National Assembly-declared acting president, announced the existence of a "humanitarian aid coalition" that comes from Colombia, Brazil and a Caribbean island.{{cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/mundo/20190202/eeuu-desafia-maduro-comienza-enviar-humanitaria-venezuela/373213215_0.html|title=Guaidó anuncia el envío de ayuda humanitaria para Venezuela desde Brasil y Colombia|newspaper=El Español|language=es|date=2 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}

On 5 February 2019 the foreign ministers of the United States, Brazil and Colombia met in the White House, in which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John R. Bolton were also present to discuss the issue of possible humanitarian aid. In their official message they showed that the opposition government of Guaidó was willing to support them in the land entry to Venezuela.{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/02/05/estados-unidos-debatio-con-brasil-y-colombia-la-logistica-para-la-entrega-de-ayuda-humanitaria-en-venezuela/|title=Estados Unidos debatió con Brasil y Colombia la logística para la entrega de ayuda humanitaria en Venezuela|trans-title=The United States discussed with Brazil and Colombia the logistics for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Venezuela|website=Infobae|language=es|date=5 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}

Guaidó called the operation a test of the military: "In a few weeks they will have to choose if they let much needed aid into the country, or if they side with Nicolas Maduro."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/ap-interview-venezuelas-guaido-vows-to-defy-ban-on-aid/2019/01/31/203ce25c-25d1-11e9-b5b4-1d18dfb7b084_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201072726/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/ap-interview-venezuelas-guaido-vows-to-defy-ban-on-aid/2019/01/31/203ce25c-25d1-11e9-b5b4-1d18dfb7b084_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 2019|title=AP Interview: Venezuela's Guaido vows to defy ban on aid|author=Rueda, Manuel and Clbyburn Saint John|date=31 January 2019|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=1 February 2019|agency=Associated Press}} Guaidó also warned that the Maduro administration had plans to "steal the products for humanitarian purposes that entered the country".{{cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/02/04/en-vivo-guaido-espera-nuevas-sanciones-de-la-ue-contra-el-regimen-de-maduro/|title=Juan Guaidó denunció que el régimen de Nicolás Maduro quiere transferir 1.200 millones de dólares a Uruguay|date=4 February 2019|work=InfoBAE|access-date=4 February 2019|language=es|quote=Guaidó no dio más detalles de su denuncia pero sí agregó que, además, el chavismo "planea robar" la ayuda humanitaria que está recolectando con colaboración de la comunidad internacional.}} This included plans to distribute these products through the government's food distribution program CLAP—a program from which, according to the 2017 Venezuelan Attorney General and Mexican prosecutors, Maduro personally profits.{{efn|Luisa Ortega Díaz, Chief Prosecutor of Venezuela from 2007 to 2017, revealed that Maduro profited from the food crisis. CLAP made contracts with Group Grand Limited, a Mexican entity owned by Maduro through frontmen. Group Grand Limited would sell foodstuffs to CLAP and receive government funds.{{cite news|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/maduro-seria-dueno-empresa-mexicana-distribuidora-los-clap_200140|title=Maduro podría ser dueño de empresa méxicana distribuidora de los CLAP|date=23 August 2017|work=El Nacional|access-date= 5 February 2019|language=es}}{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article168977357.html|title=Venezuela's ex-prosecutor Luisa Ortega accuses Maduro of profiting from nation's hunger|last1=Wyss|first1=Jim|date=23 August 2017|work=Miami Herald|access-date=24 August 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/brazils-chief-prosecutor-institutional-rape-venezuela-49376967|title=Venezuela's ousted prosecutor accuses Maduro of corruption|last1=Prengaman|first1=Peter|date=23 August 2017|agency=Associated Press|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824001526/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/brazils-chief-prosecutor-institutional-rape-venezuela-49376967|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=dead|work=ABC News}}}}

In mid-February, Guaidó reported that a web page called www.voluntariosxvenezuela.com had been set up for the registration of any person who wanted to volunteer to enter the humanitarian aid planned for 23 February. Days later, in the act of swearing in of thousands of volunteers present in the parking lot of the headquarters of the newspaper El Nacional, Guaidó indicated that in "a few hours" some 600,000 Venezuelans had already registered; in addition, several guilds among them belonging to the transport and health sectors, demonstrated at the event to show their support for the movement.{{Cite news|title=Siga en vivo la juramentación de #VoluntariosXVenezuela|trans-title=Follow live the swearing in of #VoluntariosXVenezuela|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/siga-vivo-juramentacion-voluntariosxvenezuela_271056|newspaper=El Nacional|language=es|date=16 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}{{Cite news|title=Juan Guaidó: Hemos superado los 600 mil voluntarios registrados en solo pocas horas|trans-title=Juan Guaidó: We have surpassed the 600,000 registered volunteers in just a few hours|url=https://www.panorama.com.ve/politicayeconomia/Juan-Guaido-Hemos-superado-los-600-mil-voluntarios-registrados-en-solo-pocas-horas-20190216-0008.html|website=Panorama|language=es|date=15 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217144823/https://www.panorama.com.ve//politicayeconomia/Juan-Guaido-Hemos-superado-los-600-mil-voluntarios-registrados-en-solo-pocas-horas-20190216-0008.html|archive-date=17 February 2019|url-status=dead}}

Between 12 and 13 February, users of state-run internet provider CANTV that tried to access the website were victims of phishing schemes. This manipulation was denounced as a technique to identify dissidents to the government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/venezuela-government-hack-activists-phishing/|title=Venezuela's Government Appears To Be Trying to Hack Activists With Phishing Pages|author=Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo and Jason Koebler|date=15 February 2019|website=Motherboard|access-date=15 February 2019}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://securelist.com/dns-manipulation-in-venezuela/89592/|title=DNS Manipulation in Venezuela in regards to the Humanitarian Aid Campaign|website=securelist.com|date=13 February 2019 |access-date=15 February 2019}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/cantv-redirecciona-pagina-de-voluntarios-x-venezuela-portal-falso-103954|title=Cantv redirecciona página de Voluntarios X Venezuela a portal falso|date=13 February 2019|access-date=15 February 2019|language=es|website=NTN24 {{!}} www.ntn24.com}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/denuncian-creacion-sitio-web-identico-portal-voluntarios-venezuela_270938|title=Denuncian creación un sitio web idéntico al portal Voluntarios X Venezuela|date=15 February 2019|website=El Nacional|language=es|access-date=15 February 2019}} Following the phishing incident, the official site was completely blocked for CANTV users on 16 February.{{Cite web|url=https://netblocks.org/reports/venezuela-humanitarian-aid-platform-blocked-GnAgJk8p|title=Venezuela humanitarian aid volunteer platform blocked|date=17 February 2019|website=NetBlocks|language=en-US|access-date=18 February 2019}}

File:Map of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.png

File:President Trump Delivers Remarks to the Venezuelan American Community (46422484424).jpg Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Venezuelan American community at the Florida International University Ocean Bank Convocation Center Monday, in Miami, Florida.]]

According to France 24, Guaidó has made bringing humanitarian aid to the "hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who could die if aid does not arrive" a priority, and a test of the military's allegiance.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190205-venezuela-opposition-warns-military-against-preventing-entry-aid|title=Venezuela opposition warns military against preventing entry of aid|date=5 February 2019|work=France24|access-date=5 February 2019}} He also requested aid from the United Nations.{{cite news |url= https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-tells-venezuelas-guaido-government-must-agree-aid-191533099.html |work= Yahoo News |date= 31 January 2019 |access-date= 31 January 2019 |title= UN tells Venezuela's Guaido that government must agree to aid |archive-date= 20 January 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210120072323/https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-tells-venezuelas-guaido-government-must-agree-aid-191533099.html |url-status= dead }} Guaidó said Venezuela's neighbors, in a "global coalition to send aid to Venezuela", will help get humanitarian aid and medicine into the country; products will be shipped to neighboring ports and brought overland via convoys. Guaidó began to lead nationwide demonstrations in early February, demanding the entrance of humanitarian aid into Venezuela, with hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans protesting in support.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/04/estas-contundentes-fotos-satelitales-demuestran-que-la-marcha-de-maduro-fue-microscopica/|title=Estas contundentes FOTOS satelitales demuestran que la "marcha" de Maduro fue microscópica|date=4 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=19 February 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/world/americas/venezuela-protests-opposition-maduro.html|title=Venezuelans Opposed to Maduro Pour Into Streets for Day of Protests|last1=Herrero|first1=Ana Vanessa|date=2 February 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=19 February 2019|last2=Casey|first2=Nicholas|issn=0362-4331|quote=Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan opposition supporters poured into the streets on Saturday, heeding a call from their leaders to stage another day of peaceful protests against President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian rule in hopes of capitalizing on international pressure to force him from power}}

The administration of Nicolás Maduro deployed police officers at all land borders beginning on 5 February; in response, the United States threatened to send military personnel to Colombia and Brazil to protect those in charge of delivering the aid.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-eeuu-enviara-militares-brasil-y-colombia-para-llegue-ayuda-venezuela-201902042128_noticia.html|title=EE.UU. enviará militares a Brasil y Colombia para que llegue la ayuda a Venezuela|trans-title=US will send military to Brazil and Colombia to get aid to Venezuela|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=5 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} Shortly after the announcement that international humanitarian aid would enter via the Colombia–Venezuela border, PSUV politician and former elite policeman Freddy Bernal appeared at the border with members of the armed forces and the FAES.{{cite news|url=http://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/freddy-bernal-recorre-frontera-con-cucuta-tras-anuncio-de-llegada-de-ayuda|title=Freddy Bernal recorre frontera con Cúcuta tras anuncio de llegada de ayuda humanitaria|date=3 February 2019|work=NTN24|access-date=6 February 2019}}

On 6 February, humanitarian aid from the United States arrived in Colombia, to be delivered and distributed in Venezuela.{{cite web|url=https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/venezuela/venezuela-estados-unidos-ayuda-humanitaria-llega-colombia-cucuta-noticia-605088|title=Ayuda humanitaria de EE.UU. para Venezuela llega a Colombia|trans-title=US humanitarian aid for Venezuela arrives in Colombia|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es|date=6 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} That same day, Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo hinted that the base of operations of humanitarian aid in Brazil would be Pacaraima.{{cite web|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/mundo/brasil-oea-evaluaron-envio-ayuda-humanitaria-venezuela_269741|title=Brasil y la OEA evaluaron envío de ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela|trans-title=Brazil and the OAS evaluated sending humanitarian aid to Venezuela|newspaper=El Nacional|language=es|date=6 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} In parallel, the government of Nicolás Maduro blocked the Tienditas International Bridge with cargo containers, already closed since its completion in 2016,{{Cite web|url=https://www.laopinion.com.co/cucuta/tienditas-el-puente-de-40-millones-de-dolares-que-no-han-estrenado-106377|title=Tienditas, el puente de 40 millones de dólares que no han estrenado|trans-title=Tienditas, the 40 million dollar bridge that has not been released|newspaper=La Opinión|language=es|date=5 February 2016|access-date=20 February 2019}} which connects Cúcuta and the Venezuelan municipality of Ureña.{{cite web|url=https://gestion.pe/mundo/maduro-impide-ayuda-humanitaria-poblacion-venezolana-258009|title=Así Maduro impide ayuda humanitaria para población venezolana|trans-title=This way Maduro prevents humanitarian aid for Venezuelan population|website=Gestión|language=es|date=6 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}

The next day, as the Colombian government transported cargo to Cúcuta, a group of Venezuelan refugees met them with support signs with the phrase "Ayuda humanitaria ya" ("Humanitarian aid now").{{cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/mundo/venezuela/venezuela-ayuda-humanitaria-de-eeuu-llega-a-frontera-con-colombia-en-medio-de-la-tension-noticia-1179592|title=Ayuda humanitaria de EE.UU. llega a frontera de Colombia con Venezuela en medio de la tensión|trans-title=US humanitarian aid arrives at Colombia's border with Venezuela amidst the tension|website=RPP|language=es|date=7 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} As the first trucks with aid, escorted by Colombian police, approached the blocked bridge on 7 February, human rights activists received them, and Venezuela's communications minister, Jorge Rodriguez said there was a plot between Colombia, the CIA and exiled Venezuelan politician Julio Borges to oust Maduro.{{cite news |url= https://www.apnews.com/b5481d5ad47d4ec2be132ed51b72e483 |title= US emergency aid for Venezuela arrives at Colombian border|author=Armario, Christine and Leonardo Haberkorn|date=7 February 2019|access-date=7 February 2019|work=Associated Press}}

While Guaidó attempted to secure international aid, Maduro shipped over 100 tons of aid to Cuba following a tornado that devastated Havana.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article225520320.html|title=Maduro sends 100 tons of aid to Cuba as Venezuela meanders through its own crisis|last=Gámez Torres|first=Nora|date=4 February 2019|website=Miami Herald|access-date= 6 February 2019}} Under case file SC-2017-003, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela in exile announced the authorization for the entry of an international military coalition to secure the entry and protection of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/magistrados-en-el-exilio-autorizan-coalicion-militar-internacional-para|title=Magistrados en el exilio autorizan coalición militar internacional para entrega de ayuda humanitaria|trans-title=Magistrates in exile authorize international military coalition for delivery of humanitarian aid|access-date=20 February 2019|date=8 February 2019|website=NTN24|language=es}}

Maduro voiced his opinions about why he had denied international aid, stating "With humanitarian aid they want to treat us like beggars ... in Venezuela we have the capacity to take care of our children and women. There is no humanitarian crisis here."{{cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/08/maduro-niega-crisis-humanitaria-en-venezuela-pero-se-le-fue-la-luz-video/|title=Maduro niega crisis humanitaria en Venezuela pero se le fue la luz (VIDEO)|date=8 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date= 9 February 2019}} In a later BBC interview, Maduro said, "[t]he Ku Klux Klan that governs the White House today wants to seize Venezuela" and that "Venezuela is not a country of famine. It has very high levels of nutrients and access to food."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-47213772|title=Nicolás Maduro en entrevista con la BBC: "El Ku Klux Klan que hoy gobierna la Casa Blanca quiere apoderarse de Venezuela"|date=12 February 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=12 February 2019}} As events unfolded, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez claimed that humanitarian aid provided by the United States was "carcinogenic" and part of a plot to kill Venezuelan citizens.{{Cite web|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/13/delcy-rodriguez-vicepresidenta-de-venezuela-afirma-que-ayuda-humanitaria-esta-contaminada/|title=Delcy Rodríguez, vicepresidenta de Venezuela, afirma que ayuda humanitaria está contaminada|date=13 February 2019|website=CNN|language=es-ES|access-date=18 February 2019}} She also claimed that "this so-called food from the United States aims to poison our population with chemicals" and described it as "biological weapons". USAID administrator Mark Green described the allegations as "absurd".{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/a0104bdf3ceb4a14a883fbe5f19575df|title=US military planes land near Venezuela border with aid|last1=Vergara|first1=Fernando|access-date=20 February 2019|work=Associated Press|last2=Salomon|first2=Gisela|last3=Sánchez|first3=Fabiola}} Venezuelan deputy and medic José Manuel Olivares dismissed her claims, clarifying that "the aid has quality control and sanitary registry of Colombia, Brazil and the United States."{{Cite news|url=http://www.venezuelaaldia.com/2019/02/14/vivo-reunion-la-oea-la-ayuda-humanitaria-venezuela-2/|title=Conferencia de la OEA recauda $ 100 millones para ayuda humanitaria de Venezuela|date=14 February 2019|work=Venezuela al Día|access-date=16 February 2019|language=es}} Delcy's remarks were also dismissed by the United States, saying that the Maduro government "would go to any length to lie and deny reality".{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-usa-arms/u-s-derides-venezuelas-accusation-of-lacing-aid-with-poison-idUSKCN1Q423V?il=0|title=U.S. derides Venezuela's accusation of lacing aid with poison|author=Miles, Tom|date=15 February 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=15 February 2019}}

Guaidó issued an 11-day ultimatum to the Venezuelan Armed Forces on 12 February, stating that humanitarian aid will enter Venezuela on 23 February and that the armed forces "will have to decide if it will be on the side of the Venezuelans and the Constitution or the usurper".{{cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/12/guaido-en-11-dias-la-fanb-tendra-que-decidir-si-estan-del-lado-de-los-venezolanos-y-la-constitucion-o-del-usurpador/|title=Guaidó: En 11 días la Fanb tendrá que decidir si están del lado de los venezolanos y la Constitución o del usurpador|date= 12 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date= 13 February 2019}}

Leaders of Pemon groups stated on 9 February that they would not abide by Maduro's orders and would allow aid into Venezuela through its border with Brazil.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-aid-indigenous-idUSKCN1PY0MO|title=Indigenous Pemon on Venezuela's border with Brazil vow to let aid in|date=10 February 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=22 February 2019|language=en}} Mayor Emilio Gonzalez of Gran Sabana stated that "Neither the National Guard not the government can stop this" while another Pemon leader Angel Paez stated "If humanitarian aid arrives and is prevented from entering, we will suspend the entry of government trucks too." Former Amazonas governor Liborio Guarulla announced on 14 February that the humanitarian aid started entering in the Amazonas state through the Guainía, Atabapo and Orinoco rivers with help of NGO's, the Colombian government and indigenous organizations.{{cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/politica/33115/la-ayuda-humanitaria-comenzo-a-ingresar-por-amazonas|title=Guarulla: La ayuda humanitaria comenzó a ingresar por Amazonas|author=De Vita, Antonella|date=14 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019|agency=El Universal|language=es}} A plane of the Brazilian Air Force carrying humanitarian aid to Venezuelans traveled to Boa Vista on 20 February, capital of the border state of Roraima providing 23 tons of powdered milk and 500 first-aid kits.{{Cite web|url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/internacional/noticia/2019-02/brazil-plane-humanitarian-aid-venezuela-roraima-state|title=Brazil plane with humanitarian aid for Venezuela is in Roraima state|date=22 February 2019|website=Agência Brasil}} Brazil pledged to make humanitarian aid available at the town of Pacaraima on its side of the Brazil–Venezuela border so Venezuelans can drive it into their country.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47300962|title=Venezuela crisis: Brazil vows to deliver aid, defying Maduro|date=20 February 2019|work=BBC|access-date=20 February 2019}}

Humanitarian campsites were installed in at least ten states across Venezuela by 17 February; the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence detained seven people that were installing the awnings, chairs and sound equipment of the humanitarian campsite in Maracay.{{Cite news|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sucesos/dgcim-detuvo-siete-trabajadores-del-campamento-humanitario-maracay_271210|title=Dgcim detuvo a siete trabajadores del campamento humanitario en Maracay|date=17 February 2019|work=El Nacional|access-date=20 February 2019}} Maduro's government closed airways and its maritime borders with the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao on 19 February, in a move that Curaçao officials say is to prevent aid from entering.{{cite web|url=https://www.toledoblade.com/news/World/2019/02/19/venezuela-shuts-dutch-caribbean-borders-before-us-aid-efforts/stories/20190220027|title=Venezuela shuts island borders before aid efforts|date=19 February 2019|website=The Blade|access-date=19 February 2019|agency=Reuters}}

British businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson produced a charity concert called Venezuela Aid Live on 22 February to raise funds for humanitarian aid and raise awareness of the crisis in Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcolombiano.com/cultura/musica/richard-branson-planea-un-concierto-para-ayudar-a-venezuela-con-presentaciones-de-balvin-vives-y-juanes-DB10224711|title=El concierto de Richard Branson para ayudar a Venezuela|trans-title=Richard Branson's concert to help Venezuela|access-date=20 February 2019|newspaper=El Colombiano|date=15 February 2019 |language=es}} The Maduro government responded by saying it would hold a rival concert called "Hands off Venezuela" on the Simón Bolívar International Bridge on 22 February.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/venezuela-stages-own-concerts-in-response-to-bransons-live-aid-show-idUSKCN1Q71RT|title=Venezuela stages own concerts in response to Branson's Live Aid show|date=19 February 2019|website=Reuters|access-date=18 February 2019}}

The Constituent Assembly President, Diosdado Cabello, threatened that any planes that tried to bring aid into the country would be shot down.{{Cite news|url=http://elpitazo.net/politica/cabello-amenazo-con-derribar-aviones-que-intenten-ingresar-con-ayuda-humanitaria-a-venezuela/|title=Cabello amenazó con derribar aviones que intenten ingresar con ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela|last=Leonett|first=Vanessa|date=9 February 2019|work=El Pitazo|access-date=16 February 2019|language=es}}

{{main|Pemon conflict}}

File:Tanqueta militar.JPGs were deployed in Gran Sabana, near Pemon areas|alt=]]

Humanitarian aid was stockpiled on the Brazilian border, with the intent to bring it into Venezuela. On 20 February, Dragoon 300 armoured fighting vehicles of the Armored Cavalry Squadron were seen entering the Gran Sabana region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/20/maduro-envia-tanquetas-a-santa-elena-de-uairen-para-evitar-ingreso-de-ayuda-desde-brasil-fotos/|title=Maduro envía tanquetas a Santa Elena de Uairén para evitar ingreso de ayuda desde Brasil (FOTOS)|date=20 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=22 February 2019}} Groups of indigenous Pemon peoples blocked the entry of the military vehicles into the region,{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/22/reportan-que-la-fanb-tiroteo-a-indigenas-en-la-gran-sabana/|title=Militares de Maduro tirotearon a indígenas pemón en la Gran Sabana: Una mujer asesinada y doce heridos (fotos)|date=22 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=22 February 2019}} and members of armed forces loyal to Maduro fired upon them with live ammunition on 22 February. Fifteen Pemon were injured, four seriously, and two Pemon were killed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/22/pemones-heridos-en-ataque-de-la-gnb-son-trasladados-a-hospital-en-brasil-por-falta-de-insumos-en-venezuela-foto-y-video/|title=Pemones heridos en ataque de la GNB son trasladados a hospital en Brasil por falta de insumos en Venezuela (FOTO y VIDEO)|date=22 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=22 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20190222215031-a8xxv/|title=As tensions over aid rise, Venezuelan troops fire on villagers, kill two|date=22 February 2019|website=Thomson Reuters Foundation|access-date=23 February 2019}} The injured were transferred to Brazil due to the shortage of medical supplies in the Venezuelan hospital of Santa Elena de Uairén. Following the crackdown, indigenous groups detained thirty-six soldiers and held them in the jungle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/en-fotos-mas-de-dos-mil-indigenas-intentan-llegar-a-frontera-con-brasil-por-ayuda/|title=EN FOTOS: Más de dos mil indígenas intentan llegar a frontera con Brasil por ayuda|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} Deputy Américo de Grazia, denounced the lack of medicine and ambulances to transport the wounded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/mundo/venezuela-murio-indigena-enfrentamiento-soldados-maduro-frontera-brasil_0_79OXH2VvE.html|title=Venezuela: denuncian la muerte de dos personas en un enfrentamiento con soldados de Maduro en la frontera con Brasil|website=Clarín|date=22 February 2019 |language=es|access-date=22 February 2019}}

Near the Brazil–Venezuela border, more than 2,000 indigenous people from Gran Sabana gathered to assist with the entrance of international aid.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/en-fotos-mas-de-dos-mil-indigenas-intentan-llegar-a-frontera-con-brasil-por-ayuda/|title=En fotos: Más de dos mil indígenas intentan llegar a frontera con Brasil por ayuda|date=23 February 2019|work=La Patilla|language=es|access-date=24 February 2019}} Venezuelan authorities issued a capture order of the mayor of Gran Sabana and of the Pemon chieftains, accusing them of rebellion.{{Cite news|url=http://elpitazo.net/guayana/ordenan-captura-del-alcalde-de-gran-sabana-y-caciques-pemones/|title=Ordenan captura del alcalde de Gran Sabana y caciques pemones|date=23 February 2019|work=El Pitazo|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}} The Venezuelan National Guard repressed demonstrations near Brazil, while colectivos attacked protesters in San Antonio del Táchira and Ureña,{{Cite news|url=http://epmundo.com/2019/colectivos-armados-causan-terror-en-san-antonio-del-tachira-foto/|title=Colectivos armados causan terror en San Antonio del Táchira (Foto)|date=23 February 2019|work=EP Mundo|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}} leaving at least four dead and about 20 injured.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/aumentan-a-cuatro-fallecidos-y-24-heridos-todos-por-armas-de-fuego-en-santa-elena-de-uairen/|title=Aumentan a cuatro fallecidos y 24 heridos, todos por armas de fuego, en Santa Elena de Uairén|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|access-date=23 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/23/venezuela-border-latest-maduro-guaido|title=Venezuela: at least four dead and hundreds injured in border standoff|date=23 February 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 February 2019}} Former governor Andrés Velásquez declared that fourteen people were killed and that many of them had gunshots wounds in their heads, indicating involvement of snipers. He further explained that "many have died due to lack of attention because the Santa Elena hospital does not have blood, saline solution, reactives nor oxygen, or operating rooms to intervene the patients", that the people died bleeding and the hospital personnel could not do anything to help them.{{Cite news|url=https://theobjective.com/al-menos-14-muertos-en-la-frontera-de-venezuela-con-brasil/|title=Al menos 14 muertos en la frontera de Venezuela con Brasil|date=24 February 2019|work=The Objective|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}} Two ambulances carrying dead and wounded crossed the Brazil–Venezuela border and took them to the Roraima General Hospital, in Boa Vista, where medic records documented that everyone had gunshots wounds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20190223/46644454837/dos-ambulancias-cruzan-de-venezuela-a-brasil-con-muertos-y-heridos.html|title=Dos ambulancias cruzan de Venezuela a Brasil con muertos y heridos|date=23 February 2019|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}} US senator Marco Rubio declared that Cuban agents directed repression in Ureña.{{Cite news|url=https://www.elnuevoherald.com/noticias/mundo/america-latina/cuba-es/article226679049.html|title=Rubio: agentes de Cuba dirigen represión en Ureña, Venezuela|last=Nora|first=Gámez Torres|date=23 February 2019|work=El Nuevo Herald|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}

Romel Guzamana, a representative of the indigenous community in Gran Sabana, stated that at least 25 Pemon were killed in what NTN24 described as a "massacre" by Venezuelan troops.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntn24america.com/america-latina/venezuela/confirman-25-muertos-en-santa-elena-de-uairen-y-denuncian-uso-de-presos|title=Confirman 25 muertos en Santa Elena de Uairén y denuncian uso de presos para reprimir|date=24 February 2019|website=NTN24|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103105/http://www.ntn24america.com/america-latina/venezuela/confirman-25-muertos-en-santa-elena-de-uairen-y-denuncian-uso-de-presos|archive-date=25 February 2019|url-status=dead}}

Colectivos and the Venezuelan National Guard killed at least four and injured twenty-four more during border conflicts in Santa Elena de Uairén early on 23 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/aumentan-a-cuatro-fallecidos-y-24-heridos-todos-por-armas-de-fuego-en-santa-elena-de-uairen/|title=Aumentan a cuatro fallecidos y 24 heridos, todos por armas de fuego, en Santa Elena de Uairén|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} A Venezuelan army post near Santa Elena de Uairén was attacked with molotov cocktails and stones.{{Cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rr/roraima/noticia/2019/02/23/manifestantes-lancam-coquetel-molotov-contra-base-do-exercito-da-venezuela-na-fronteira.ghtml|title=Base venezuela é atacada na fronteira com o Brasil; atos, discursos e mortes marcam o Dia D de ajuda humanitária|date=23 February 2019|website=GloboNews|language=PT-br|access-date=23 February 2019}} Aid trucks destined to travel from Brazil into Venezuela did not enter Venezuela and returned to their departure points. The Brazilian Army reported that Venezuelan authorities fired live ammunition at those attempting to accept aid and that tear gas from Venezuela was fired into the Brazilian border city of Pacaraima.{{Cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rr/roraima/noticia/2019/02/23/nunca-vi-outro-pais-jogar-bomba-de-gas-no-brasil-diz-coronel-brasileiro-sobre-confronto-na-fronteira.ghtml|title='Nunca vi exército de outro país jogar bomba de gás no Brasil', diz coronel brasileiro sobre confronto na fronteira|date=23 February 2019|website=GloboNews|language=pt-br|access-date=24 February 2019}} By the end of the conflict, Romel Guzamana, a representative of the indigenous community in Gran Sabana, stated that at least 25 Pemon were killed in what NTN24 described as a "massacre" by Venezuelan troops.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntn24america.com/america-latina/venezuela/confirman-25-muertos-en-santa-elena-de-uairen-y-denuncian-uso-de-presos|title=Confirman 25 muertos en Santa Elena de Uairén y denuncian uso de presos para reprimir|date=24 February 2019|website=NTN24|language=es|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103105/http://www.ntn24america.com/america-latina/venezuela/confirman-25-muertos-en-santa-elena-de-uairen-y-denuncian-uso-de-presos|archive-date=25 February 2019|url-status=dead}}

File:Vice President Pence's Trip to Colombia (32279598037).jpg speaks to reporters in front of US aid shipments and Venezuelan migrants in Bogota, Colombia on 25 February 2019]]

Thousands accompany a caravan of aid trucks towards the Colombia–Venezuela border.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-violent-battle-on-the-venezuela-colombia-border/|title= Inside the violent battel on the Venezuela–Colombia border |author=Megan Janetsky|date=25 February 2019|work=Vice News}} Guaidó headed a caravan of 300 people, briefly appearing on the lead truck as it left Cúcuta for Venezuelan territory.{{cite news|url=https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/orbe/caravana-de-300-personas-acompana-entrada-de-ayuda-humanitaria-a-venezuela-videos/|title=Caravana de 300 personas acompaña entrada de ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela: Videos|date=23 February 2019|work=Herald of Mexico|access-date=24 February 2019|language=es|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917191135/https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/orbe/caravana-de-300-personas-acompana-entrada-de-ayuda-humanitaria-a-venezuela-videos/|url-status=dead}} Maduro announces the severing of diplomatic relations with Colombia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/maduro-rompe-relaciones-diplomaticas-con-colombia/|title=Maduro rompe relaciones diplomáticas con Colombia|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} Pro-Maduro paramilitaries fired upon demonstrators demanding aid in San Antonio del Táchira.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/en-fotos-paramilitares-de-maduro-disparan-a-manifestantes-pacificos-en-san-antonio-del-tachira/|title=EN FOTOS: Paramilitares de Maduro disparan a manifestantes pacíficos en San Antonio del Táchira|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} According to opposition deputy Gaby Arellano, of the five trucks that attempted to enter Venezuela from Colombia, two were lost to fire, two were stolen by Maduro loyalists and one returned to Colombia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/23/venezuelan-soldiers-defect-troops-fire-tear-gas-protesters-colombia/|title=Venezuela's Juan Guaido says 'all options open' after soldiers set fire to aid convoys in deadly border clashes|last1=Alexander|first1=Harriet|date=23 February 2019|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 February 2019|last2=Sabur|first2=Rozina|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|last3=Graham|first3=Chris}} Both Colombia and Venezuela closed their joint border, leaving many Venezuelans trapped in Colombia and seeking shelter in makeshift camps.{{cite news|url=http://efectococuyo.com/la-humanidad/campamento-en-tienditas-resguarda-a-venezolanos-varados-tras-cierre-fronterizo/|title=Campamento en Tienditas resguarda a venezolanos varados tras cierre frontera|author=Fermin Kancev, Maria Vicotoria|date=24 February 2019|work=Efecto Cocuy0|access-date=24 February 2019|language=es}}

On the Francisco de Paula de Santander Bridge, Venezuelan National Police wept while being confronted by Venezuelans begging for the entrance of international aid.{{Cite web|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/venezuela-uniformados-lloraron-frontera-ayuda-humanitaria-cnne/|title=Venezolanos le imploran a uniformados que abran la frontera|date=23 February 2019|website=CNN|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} Venezuelan National Police on the bridge then retreated further into Venezuelan territory as the aid caravan approached.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/pnb-ciudadana-puente-francisco-de-paula-23feb/|title=Momento en que la PNB retrocede ante la avalancha de venezolanos en el puente Francisco de Paula Santander #23Feb (VIDEO)|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} As trucks crossed the bridge, Venezuelan authorities fired tear gas upon the protesters who responded with rocks and molotov cocktails{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/world/americas/venezuela-aid-fire-video.html|title=Footage Contradicts U.S. Claim That Maduro Burned Aid Convoy|work=The New York Times|date=10 March 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019|last1=Casey |first1=Nicholas |last2=Koettl |first2=Christoph |last3=Acosta |first3=Deborah }} and some trucks burst into flames.{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article226723564.html|title=Venezuela border skirmishes continue as questions swirl around torched aid bus|last1=Wyss|first1=Jim|date=24 February 2019|work=Miami Herald|access-date=26 February 2019|last2=Chang|first2=Daniel|quote=Eyewitnesses to the event said the trucks were stopped just over the Venezuelan border and then faced a barrage of teargas. One man ... said he saw one of the gas canisters ignite the tarp stretched over the aid. As the opposition retreated, the truck burst into flames. Three other eyewitnesses provided similar versions.}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/en-fotos-tres-camiones-con-ayuda-humanitaria-fueron-incendiados-con-bombas-lacrimogenas-por-funcionarios-del-regimen/|title=EN FOTOS: Tres camiones con ayuda humanitaria fueron incendiados con bombas lacrimógenas por funcionarios del régimen|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019|quote=Three trucks carrying humanitarian aid were set ablaze by falling tear gas bombs that were thrown by officials of the Maduro regime on the Francisco de Paula de Santander border bridge}} Aid volunteers formed a human chain and removed humanitarian packages from the burning trucks to prevent their destruction,{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/en-fotos-con-las-manos-desnudas-y-valentia-venezolanos-intentan-salvar-la-ayuda-de-las-llamas/|title=EN FOTOS: Con las manos desnudas y valentía, venezolanos intentan salvar la ayuda de las llamas|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=23 February 2019}} with a good portion of the supplies being saved and returned to Colombia.{{cite news|url=https://www.clarin.com/mundo/incendiaron-camiones-llevaban-ayuda-humanitaria-venezuela_0_J0Fl0lFDi.html|title=Incendiaron tres camiones que llevaban ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela|date=23 February 2019|work=Clarin|access-date=24 February 2019|language=es}} Later in the day, protesters responded Venezuelan colectivos and military with molotov cocktails and stones.{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/on-the-venezuela-border-aid-push-devolves-into-bloodshed-chaos/|title=On the Venezuela border, aid push devolves into bloodshed, chaos|author=Wyss, Jim|date=23 February 2019|work=Seattle Times|access-date=24 February 2019|publisher=Miami Herald|quote=As the day went on, the crowds in Colombia grew more belligerent, hauling rocks and Molotov cocktails to the front line to battle pro-government gangs, called 'Colecitvos,' and the military.}}

On 23 February, trucks with humanitarian aid attempted to pass into Venezuela from Brazil and Colombia, opposed by Maduro's administration.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/23/americas/venezuela-brazil-violence-intl/index.html|title=Venezuela's Maduro breaks relations with Colombia in standoff over aid|author1=Smith-Spark, Laura |author2=Jorge Luis Perez Valery |author3=Claudia Dominguez |author4=Christina Maxouris|date=23 February 2019|work=CNN|access-date=23 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47343918|title=Venezuela soldiers abandon posts at Colombia border|date=23 February 2019|work=BBC|access-date=23 February 2019}} At the Colombia–Venezuela border, the caravans were tear-gassed or shot at with rubber bullets by Venezuelan personnel as they crossed bridges.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/feb/23/venezuela-brazil-border-aid-live-news-latest-updates|title=Guaidó: military should disown leader who burns food in front of the hungry – as it happened|date=23 February 2019|work=The Guardian}} Protesters near the caravans responded by throwing stones and molotov cocktails at Venezuelan authorities in order to gain entrance into Venezuela later in the day.{{Cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rr/roraima/noticia/2019/02/23/manifestantes-lancam-coquetel-molotov-contra-base-do-exercito-da-venezuela-na-fronteira.ghtml|title=Base venezuela é atacada na fronteira com o Brasil; atos, discursos e mortes marcam o Dia D de ajuda humanitária|date=23 February 2019|website=GloboNews|language=PT-braccess-date=2019-02-23}} According to deputy Gaby Arellano, of the five trucks that attempted to enter Venezuela from Colombia, two were lost to a fire, two were stolen by Maduro loyalists and one returned to Colombia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/23/venezuelan-soldiers-defect-troops-fire-tear-gas-protesters-colombia/|title=Venezuela's Juan Guaido says 'all options open' after soldiers set fire to aid convoys in deadly border clashes|last1=Alexander|first1=Harriet|date=23 February 2019|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 February 2019|last2=Sabur|first2=Rozina|issn=0307-1235|last3=Graham|first3=Chris}} The president of the Venezuelan National Assembly's Health Subcommission José Manuel Olivares was physically assaulted at the Colombian–Venezuelan border, reportedly by the member of a colectivo.{{Cite news |date=24 February 2019 |title=VIDEO Quedó grabada agresión a diputado José Manuel Olivares en la frontera |url=https://informe21.com/politica/video-quedo-grabada-agresion-a-diputado-jose-manuel-olivares-en-la-frontera |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043654/https://informe21.com/politica/video-quedo-grabada-agresion-a-diputado-jose-manuel-olivares-en-la-frontera |archive-date=6 March 2019 |access-date=4 March 2019 |work=Informe21}} Deputy Freddy Superlano was reportedly poisoned in Cúcuta, and his assistant died from the same incident.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/venezuelan-opposition-looks-to-foreign-allies-for-further-steps-to-unseat-maduro/2019/02/24/3f046ce4-37bc-11e9-8375-e3dcf6b68558_story.html|title=Venezuelan opposition looks to foreign allies for further steps to unseat Maduro|author1=Faiola, Anthony |author2=Rachelle Krygier |author3=Dylan Baddour|date=24 February 2019|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=24 February 2019}} The opposition asked for an investigation, without making "claims on who the culprits were". A sister of a deceased National Guardsman denounced that her brother was killed by another officer when he asked for a discharge in the border.{{Cite news|url=http://www.caraotadigital.net/carrusel/guardia-nacional-frontera/|title=Un guardia nacional habría asesinado a otro efectivo al pedir la baja en la frontera este 23Feb|last=da Silva|first=Miguel|date=23 February 2019|work=Caraota Digital|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:ARV Almirante Brión (F-22) - 2010.jpg, deployed to prevent the 23 February entry of aid from Puerto Rico.]]

A ship originating from Puerto Rico attempted to deliver humanitarian aid via the port at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, but the vessel, carrying civilians, returned after the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela threatened to "open fire" on it.{{Cite news|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-navy-threatened-to-open-fire-on-u-s-financed-aid-ship-puerto-ricos-governor-says/|title= Venezuela navy threatened to "open fire" on U.S.-financed aid ship, Puerto Rico's governor says|date=23 February 2019|website=CBS News|author= Montoya-Galvez, Camilo| access-date=24 February 2019}} Six vessels of the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela, including the Mariscal Sucre-class frigate Almirante Brion and patrol boats, were deployed to prevent the entry of the aid shipment.{{Cite news|url= https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2019/02/23/5c7128dbfc6c833b178b4602.html |title= La llegada de la ayuda humanitaria en Venezuela, en directo: Maduro frena la entrada con violencia|author= Lozano, Daniel|date=23 February 2019|website= El Mundo|language=es|access-date=24 February 2019}} Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rosselló, who ordered the return of the ship, stated that the act by the Venezuelan Navy was "unacceptable and shameful" and that Puerto Rico "notified our partners in the U.S. government about this serious incident".

By the end of the day, a preliminary report by the Organization of American States (OAS) reported more than 285 injured, and former governor Andrés Velásquez reported as many as 14 deaths in the clashes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/23/mas-de-285-heridos-y-14-asesinatos-por-represion-del-regimen-de-maduro-este-23feb-estima-informe-de-la-oea/|title=Más de 285 heridos y 14 asesinatos por represión del régimen de Maduro este #23Feb, estima informe de la OEA|date=23 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=24 February 2019}} Reuters said that no aid destined for Venezuelan was able to enter the country.{{Cite web|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20190224040545-xvbtr/|title=Venezuela's Guaido says "all options open" after Maduro blocks aid|last1=Polanco|first1=Anggy|last2=Armas|first2=Mayela|date=24 February 2019|website=Thomson Reuters Foundation|access-date=24 February 2019|last3=Bocanegra|first3=Nelson}} Maduro danced at a rally with his wife while the attempted entry of humanitarian aid was taking place, which CNN reported was attended by public employees whose jobs depend on Maduro.{{undue weight inline|date=March 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/maduro-baila-enfrentamientos-frontera-ayuda-humanitaria-live-jorge-luis-perez-valery-mirador-mundial/|title=Maduro bailó salsa con su esposa mientras en las fronteras se desataba la violencia por la ayuda humanitaria|trans-title=Maduro danced salsa with his wife while violence was unleashed on the borders by humanitarian aid|date=24 February 2019|work=CNN en español|language=es|access-date=24 February 2019}}

Border clashes continued with Brazil and Brazilian patrols arrived at the border to prevent the violation of the territorial space by Venezuelan Armed Forces.{{cite news |url= https://www.npr.org/2019/02/25/697638242/pence-on-venezuela-we-will-keep-standing-until-your-libertad-is-restored |work= NPR |date= 25 February 2019 |access-date= 26 February 2019 |title= Pence On Venezuela: 'We Will Keep Standing With You Until ... Libertad Is Restored'}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/24/patrullas-brasilenas-acuden-a-la-frontera-con-venezuela-para-evitar-que-las-fan-violen-su-espacio-video/|title=Patrullas brasileñas acuden a la frontera con Venezuela para evitar que las FAN violen su espacio (VIDEO)|date=24 February 2019|work=El Pitazo|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}

From 24 to 25 February, there were continued Colombian border clashes between protestors and colectivos;{{cite news |url= https://www.france24.com/en/20190225-trump-usa-pence-maduro-venezuela-guaido |work= France 24 |date= 25 February 2019 |access-date= 26 February 2019 |title= Trump is 'with you 100 percent', Pence tells Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido}} Venezuelan authorities fired upon protesters who threw rocks and molotov cocktails,{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article226723564.html|title=Venezuela border skirmishes continue as questions swirl around torched aid bus|date=24 February 2019|author=Jim Wyss|author2=Daniel Chang|work=Miami Herald}} and Colombian border police in Colombian territory near the Simón Bolívar International Bridge.{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/venezuela/venezuela-disparan-manifestantes-policia-colombia-puente-simon-bolivar-video-noticia-611303|title=Venezuela: Disparan contra manifestantes y policía colombiana en puente Simón Bolívar {{!}} Video|date= 25 February 2019|work= El Comercio|language=es|access-date=26 February 2019}} Venezuelan National Guardsmen also fired live ammunition against protesters and Colombian policemen.{{Cite news|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/latinoamerica/gnb-dispara-con-armas-fuego-policias-colombianos-frontera_272391|title=GNB dispara con armas de fuego a policías colombianos en la frontera|date=25 February 2019|work=El Nacional|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) asked the Venezuelan Armed Forces to abstain using force and to allow free transit.{{Cite news|url=http://efectococuyo.com/principales/cidh-fuerzas-armadas-deben-abstenerse-de-usar-la-fuerza-y-permitir-la-circulacion/|title=Cidh: Fuerzas Armadas deben abstenerse de usar la fuerza y permitir la circulación|last=Avendaño|first=Shari|date=23 February 2019|work=Efecto Cocuyo|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}

Guaidó said the world "had 'been able to see with their own eyes' how Maduro had violated international law. 'The Geneva protocols clearly state that destroying humanitarian aid is a crime against humanity,' he said." Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez declared that "they saw only a little piece of what we are willing to do",{{cite news|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/delcy-rodriguez-vieron-pedacito-que-estamos-dispuestos-hacer_272230|title=Delcy Rodríguez: Vieron un pedacito de lo que estamos dispuestos a hacer|date=24 February 2019|work=El Nacional|access-date=6 March 2019|language=es}} and Diosdado Cabello stated "we showed the tip of the iceberg".{{Cite news|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2223409-el-grupo-lima-descarto-intervencion-militar-venezuela|title=El Grupo de Lima descartó una intervención militar en Venezuela|author=Lozano, Daniel|date=25 February 2019|work=La Nación|access-date=6 March 2019|language=es|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306234743/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2223409-el-grupo-lima-descarto-intervencion-militar-venezuela|url-status=dead}}

The cause of the fire that consumed humanitarian aid on 23 February is disputed. Eyewitnesses accounts attribute the source of the fire to tear gas canisters fired by the Venezuelan personnel. Unpublished footage examined by The New York Times published on 10 March suggested that the fire may have been accidentally started by a molotov cocktail thrown by an anti-government protester. Colombian foreign minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo rejected the claims by The New York Times that the Colombian government manipulated the video of the burning of the aid truck, insisting that Nicolás Maduro was responsible.{{Cite news|url=http://elpitazo.net/politica/colombia-niega-manipulacion-video-incendio-ayuda/|title=Colombia niega manipulación de video del incendio de camión con ayuda para Venezuela|date=12 March 2019|work=El Pitazo|access-date=16 March 2019|language=es}} Responding when asked about the claims in a BBC interview, Juan Guaidó stressed that its findings suggested only a possible theory, that it was the newspaper's point of view and that a total of three trucks were burned, while the footage focused on one.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-14|title=Entrevista de Juan Guaidó con la BBC: "Ninguno de los organismos de seguridad que el gobierno controla se ha atrevido a apresarme"|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-47573763|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-02|website=BBC|language=es|quote=Que sugiere, tal cual. Esa fue la conclusión del reportaje: que presuntamente pudo haber sido. Eso fue un punto de vista de un reportaje de investigación del periódico. Fueron tres camiones quemados y ellos hacen la referencia a un video cuadro a cuadro y a una imagen que podría haber sido el resultante de eso.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316050448/https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-47573763 |archive-date=16 March 2019 }} A group of around 30 Venezuelans protested outside The New York Times offices in United States, questioning the newspaper's "partiality" and criticized the moment of the publication which occurred while Venezuela suffered from a nationwide blackout.{{Cite news|url=http://eltiempolatino.com/news/2019/mar/11/venezolanos-protestaron-las-afueras-del-edificio-d/|title=Venezolanos protestaron a las afueras del edificio del New York Times|date=11 March 2019|work=El Tiempo Latino|access-date=12 March 2019|language=es}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/mundo/venezolanos-protestaron-los-alrededores-del-edificio-new-york-times_274226|title=Venezolanos protestaron en los alrededores del edificio de New York Times|date=11 March 2019|work=El Nacional|access-date=12 March 2019|language=es}} Journalist Karla Salcedo Flores denounced state-run Telesur for plagiarism and the manipulation of her photos for propaganda purposes after the network claimed protesters poured gasoline on the trucks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/25/periodista-denuncia-plagio-de-sus-fotos-para-tergiversar-quema-de-camiones-en-la-frontera/|title=Periodista denuncia plagio de sus fotos para tergiversar quema de camiones en la frontera|date=25 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=26 February 2019}} Agence France-Presse published an investigation disproving Telesur's claims with the photos.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-12 |title=AFP: Opositores no incendiaron vehículo con ayuda humanitaria |url=https://www.el-carabobeno.com/afp-opositores-no-incendiaron-vehiculo-con-ayuda-humanitaria/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Agence France-Presse |publisher=El Carabobeño |language=es}} Bellingcat reported that since the open source evidence examined for its investigation does not show the moment of ignition, it is not possible to make a definitive determination regarding the cause of the fire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/americas/2019/03/10/fire-on-the-border-analyzing-venezuelas-february-23-border-clashes/|title=Fire on the Border: Analyzing Venezuela's February 23 Border Clashes|date=10 March 2019|work=Bellingcat|access-date=12 March 2019|quote=The open source evidence examined for this article is not complete: it does not show the moment of ignition. For this reason, it is not possible to make a definitive determination regarding the cause of the fire.}}

Deputy Miguel Pizarro informed that the National Assembly would denounce the burning of the trucks transporting aid in the International Criminal Court.{{Cite news|url=http://elpitazo.net/politica/asamblea-nacional-llevara-a-la-cpi-el-incendio-de-camiones-que-contenia-ayuda-humanitaria/|title=Asamblea Nacional llevará a la CPI el incendio de camiones que contenía ayuda humanitaria|date=23 February 2019|work=El Pitazo|access-date=4 March 2019|language=es}}

The United States and a number of other nations staged a walkout at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza was preparing to begin his speech, boycotting him.{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-others-boycott-venezuela-speech-at-un-disarmament-conference/4806421.html|title=US, Others Boycott Venezuela Speech at UN Disarmament Conference|author=Lisa Schlein|date=27 February 2019|work=Voice of America}} Salcedo Flores denounced again the misuse of her photos by Arreaza and dismissed the claim that the photos represented any evidence of the alleged crimes committed by the protesters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/periodista-desmintio-version-arreaza-sobre-fotografias-frontera_272792|title=Periodista desmintió la versión de Arreaza sobre fotografías en la fronter|date=27 February 2019|website=El Nacional|language=es|access-date=13 March 2019}}

=={{anchor|RedCrossVenAid}}Red Cross aid effort==

{{further|Crisis in Venezuela}}

Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, announced on 29 March 2019 that the Red Cross was preparing to bring humanitarian aid to the country to help ease both the chronic hunger and the medical crisis.{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/international-red-cross-ready-for-venezuela-humanitarian-aid-operation-idUSKCN1RA1XP |work= Reuters |date= 29 March 2019 |access-date= 30 March 2019 |title= International Red Cross ready for Venezuela humanitarian aid operation |author= Pons, Corina and Brian Ellsworth}} The Guardian reported that Maduro had "long denied the existence of a humanitarian crisis, and on 23 February blocked an effort led by Guaidó to bring aid into the country", and that the Red Cross had "brokered a deal" between the Maduro and Guaidó administrations "indicating a seldom-seen middle ground between the two men".

The Red Cross aid shipments were expected to begin within a few weeks, and the first shipment would help about 650,000 people; simultaneously, a leaked UN report estimated that 7 million Venezuelans were likely in need of humanitarian assistance.{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/05/un-urged-to-declare-full-scale-crisis-in-venezuela-as-health-system-collapses |work= The Guardian |access-date= 7 April 2019 |date= 5 April 2019 |title= UN urged to declare full-scale crisis in Venezuela as health system 'collapses' |author= Hodal, Kate}} During what The Wall Street Journal called "Latin America's worst humanitarian crisis ever", the "operation would rival Red Cross relief efforts in war-torn Syria, signaling the depth of Venezuela's crisis." Rocca said the efforts would focus first on hospitals, including state-run facilities, and said the Red Cross was open to the possibility of delivering aid products stored on the Venezuelan borders with Colombia and Brazil, if the products meet standards.{{cite news |title= Red Cross ready to aid Venezuela, warns against politics |author= Torchia, Christopher. |newspaper= Washington Post |publisher = Associated Press |date= 29 March 2019 |via= ProQuest}} Also available [https://web.archive.org/web/20190329224812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuelas-guaido-makes-renewed-promise-to-deliver-aid/2019/03/29/b993bfba-5237-11e9-bdb7-44f948cc0605_story.html online.]{{cite news |title= Red Cross granted access to deliver aid in Venezuela |work= New York Times |date= 29 March 2019 |via= ProQuest}} The first shipments of medical supplies will bypass the government and go to eight clinics run by the Red Cross in Venezuela. Because of the additional problems caused by the 2019 Venezuelan blackouts, the Red Cross hopes to also provide hospitals with power plants. Rocca warned that the Red Cross would not accept any political interference, and said the effort must be "independent, neutral, impartial and unhindered".{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/29/venezuela-maduro-guaido-aid-red-cross |work= The Guardian |date= 29 March 2019 |access-date= 30 March 2019 |title= Venezuela: Red Cross brokers Maduro-Guaidó deal to allow aid delivery |author= Daniels, Joe Parkin}}

The Wall Street Journal said that the acceptance of humanitarian shipments by Maduro was his first acknowledgement that Venezuela is "suffering from an economic collapse", adding that "until a few days ago, the government maintained there was no crisis and it didn't need outside help". Guaidó said the acceptance of humanitarian aid was the "result of our pressure and insistence",{{cite news |title= Red Cross announces Venezuelan aid effort |work= Wall Street Journal |publisher= Dow Jones Institutional News |author= Dube, Ryan |date= 29 March 2019 |via= ProQuest}} Also available [https://www.wsj.com/articles/red-cross-announces-venezuelan-aid-effort-11553899904 online.] and called on Venezuelans to "stay vigilant to make sure incoming aid is not diverted for 'corrupt' purposes". Maduro and Arreaza met with representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on 9 April,{{cite news |url= https://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/maduro-sostuvo-encuentro-con-representantes-de-la-cruz-roja-105757 |publisher= NTN24 |language= es |date= 9 April 2019 |access-date= 10 April 2019 |title= Maduro sostuvo encuentro con representantes de la Cruz Roja}} and Maduro, for the first time, indicated he prepared to accept international aid—although denying a humanitarian crisis exists.{{cite news |url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/maduro-venezuela-ready-receive-international-aid-190410083550252.html |publisher= Al Jazeera |date= 10 April 2019 |access-date= 10 April 2019 |title= Maduro says Venezuela ready to receive international aid}} Red Cross was allowed access to prisons in Venezuela for first time since before Chávez died, ranging from prisons holding largely foreigners to prisons holding largely political prisoners to military detention centers. Iris Varela, prisons minister said the delegates were invited so they could share the amazing quality of Venezuelan reform centers with the world.{{cite news |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/red-cross-regains-access-venezuela-jails-military-prisons-n992981 |work= NBC News |date= 10 April 2019 |access-date= 10 April 2019 |title= Red Cross regains access to Venezuela jails, military prisons |publisher= Associated Press}} The ICRC announced a day later that there was an agreement to expand aid to 36 hospitals and primary health care centers.{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuelan-politics-redcross/international-red-cross-says-stepping-up-aid-to-venezuela-idUSKCN1RN14Y |publisher= Reuters |date= 11 April 2019 |access-date= 11 April 2019 |title= International Red Cross says stepping up aid to Venezuela}}

Following the joint report from Human Rights Watch and Johns Hopkins in April 2019, increasing announcements from the United Nations about the scale of the humanitarian crisis, and the softening of Maduro's position on receiving aid, the ICRC tripled its budget for aid to Venezuela.{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/12/red-cross-aid-to-venezuela-to-triple-as-nicolas-maduro-stance-softens |work= The Guardian |access-date= 12 April 2019 |date= 12 April 2019 |author= Beaumont, Peter |title= Red Cross aid to Venezuela to triple as Maduro stance softens}} The increased Red Cross aid would focus in four areas: the migration crisis, the health care system collapse, water and sanitation, and prisons and detention centers.

The first Red Cross delivery of supplies for hospitals arrived on 16 April via an air cargo shipment from Panama and contained generators, water, and surgery kits.{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-red-cross/first-shipment-of-red-cross-humanitarian-aid-arrives-in-venezuela-idUSKCN1RS1VQ |publisher= Reuters |date= 16 April 2019 |access-date= 16 April 2019 |title= First shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid arrives in Venezuela}} Relative to the amount of need, the initial supplies were expected to be little "more than a palliative measure", but National Assembly Deputy Miguel Pizarro viewed it as an encouraging sign that the Maduro administration would allow more aid to enter. According to the Associated Press, having long denied that there was a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, Maduro positioned the delivery "as a necessary measure to confront punishing U.S. economic sanctions"; having "rallied the international community", Guaidó "quickly claimed credit for the effort".{{cite news |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/venezuela-humanitarian-aid-arrives-1.5100067 |work= CBC Canada |access-date= 16 April 2019 |date= 16 April 2019 |title= Humanitarian aid shipment makes it into Venezuela after delays |publisher= Associated Press}}

Quoting Tamara Taraciuk—an expert at Human Rights Watch on Venezuela—who called the situation "a completely man-made crisis", The New York Times said the aid effort in Venezuela presented challenges regarding how to deliver aid in an "unprecedented political, economic and humanitarian crisis" that was "caused largely by the policies of a government intent on staying in power, rather than war or natural disaster".{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/17/world/americas/red-cross-venezuela-aid.html |work= New York Times |date= 17 April 2019 |access-date= 17 April 2019 |title= Red Cross grapples with aid distribution in polarized Venezuela |author= Herrera, Isayen and Anatoly Kurmanaev}} The humanitarian crisis is impacted by the presidential crisis and international sanctions, along with concerns that the Red Cross effort alone will be insufficient to meet the need, and whether the aid effort will continue to be politicized. According to The New York Times, "armed pro-government paramilitaries" fired weapons to disrupt the first Red Cross delivery, and officials associated with Maduro's party told the Red Cross to leave.

In December 2019, Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), denounced a lack of international assistance to Venezuela, stating that its international appeal for 50 million Swiss francs was less than 10 percent funded, which he attributed to a lack of political will and politicization of the aid process. Rocca warned that some actors wanted to use the desperation of the civilian population as a means to "destabilize the country", and disputed claims that the government was not allowing aid into the country, stating that the Red Cross was able to "deliver everything in a very free" way, but that there was a lack of aid to deliver.{{cite news|title=Red Cross slams 'unacceptable' politicisation of Venezuela aid|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191202-red-cross-slams-unacceptable-politicisation-of-venezuela-aid|agency=AFP|work=France 24|date=2 December 2019|access-date=5 December 2019}}

Member of the National Assembly, Lester Toledo announced in May that the NGO Rescate Venezuela and the Ayuda y Libertad coalition had already given medical aid and survival kits to about 10.000 Venezuelans in more than 20 states. Most of the effort is carried out by volunteering.{{cite news|url=https://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/al-menos-10000-personas-recibieron-ayuda-humanitaria-en-todo-el-pais-107156|title=Al menos 10.000 personas recibieron ayuda humanitaria en todo el país|work=NTN24|language=es|date=19 May 2019|access-date=22 May 2019}}

On 14 June, PanAm Post published an article reporting that representatives of Guaidó had misappropriated payments for the housing of Venezuelan military defectors that arrived at Colombia, allegedly using them for personal purchases.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKCN1TG0NK|title=Venezuela's Guaido calls for probe into funds for military defectors|date=2019-06-15|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-06-17|language=en}} Following the publication of the article, Guaidó's presidential office informed that the individuals accused of corruption were dismissed from their positions and requested the cooperation of the Colombian government, multilateral agencies and other organizations to clarify the events an impartial investigation.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/160e1db903804b18a6d1b759fe47ffac|title=Venezuela's Guaidó grapples with case of alleged corruption|last=Torchia|first=Christopher|date=18 June 2019|website=Associated Press|access-date=18 June 2019}} The Venezuelan embassy in Colombia issued a statement informing that Guaidó and the appointed ambassador, Humberto Calderón, agreed to carry out an audit. Venezuelan political parties, including Popular Will, Justice First, Democratic Action and A New Era, supported the start of the investigation of the events.{{cite news|title=Voluntad Popular respalda la decisión del presidente (e) Juan Guaidó de solicitar una investigación ante las supuestas irregularidades en Cúcuta (Comunicado)|url=http://confirmado.com.ve/voluntad-popular-respalda-la-decision-del-presidente-e-juan-guaido-de-solicitar-una-investigacion-ante-las-supuestas-irregularidades-en-cucuta-comunicado/|date=15 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019|work=Confirmado}}{{cite news|title=Primero justicia rechaza uso indebido de fondos de la cooperación internacional|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/primero-justicia-rechaza-uso-indebido-cooperacion-internacional/|date=15 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019|work=El Pitazo}}{{cite news|title=Acción Democrática respalda investigar presunta apropiación indebida de fondos en Cúcuta|url=https://elcooperante.com/accion-democratica-respalda-investigar-presunta-apropiacion-indebida-de-fondos-en-cucuta/|date=16 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019|work=El Cooperante|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918034328/https://elcooperante.com/accion-democratica-respalda-investigar-presunta-apropiacion-indebida-de-fondos-en-cucuta/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=UNT respalda investigación exigida por el presidente Guaidó ante supuesto manejo irregular de fondos en Colombia|url=https://www.lapatilla.com/2019/06/15/unt-respalda-investigacion-exigida-por-el-presidente-guaido-ante-supuesto-manejo-irregular-de-fondos-en-colombia/|date=15 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019|work=La Patilla}} Colombian Foreign Minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, condemned the reported act of corruption and urged the authorities to advance the investigations to determine if any wrongdoings occurred.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entornointeligente.com/holmes-trujillo-condenamos-posible-acto-de-corrupcin-en-manejo-de-recursos-por-parte-de-venezolanos/|title=Holmes Trujillo: Condenamos posible acto de corrupción en manejo de recursos por parte de venezolanos|last=Molina|first=Hernan Porras|date=15 June 2019|website=Entorno Inteligente|language=es|access-date=17 June 2019}}

The NGO Transparencia Internacional compiled a first report on the accused representatives. The report concluded that Guaidó's envoys were only involved in the administration of funds contributed by foundations and donors, not humanitarian aid from public funds. The NGO recommended appointing a special comptroller and independent agency to audit Venezuelan finances abroad.{{Cite web|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/gobierno-interino-agradece-investigacion-de-transparencia-internacional-sobre-gastos-en-cucuta/|title=Gobierno interino agradece investigación de Transparencia Internacional sobre gastos en Cúcuta|last=López|first=Abel|date=18 September 2019|website=El Pitazo|access-date=19 September 2019}}

NPR reported that critics say the offer of humanitarian aid by the United States was designed as a way to place pressure on Maduro and to increase dissent among the Venezuelan armed forces,{{Cite news|url= https://www.npr.org/2019/02/16/695154567/u-s-masses-aid-along-venezuelan-border-as-some-humanitarian-groups-warn-of-risks |title= U.S. Masses Aid Along Venezuelan Border As Some Humanitarian Groups Warn Of Risks|website=NPR|date= 16 February 2019 |access-date= 19 February 2019}} and that the US is using a similar tactic that Russia used in Ukraine, where 250 Russian trucks entered to deliver aid in 2014. Colombia, and Venezuela's neighboring countries, "are the most interested in seeing aid brought in", according to CNN, to "help reduce the wave of Venezuelan refugees pouring across their borders." Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Colombia's foreign minister, said that blocking aid was a crime that "would give even more reason ... to ask the International Criminal Court to investigate Maduro".{{cite news |url= https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuela-military-sets-up-blockade-on-bridge-to-stop-aid-from-colombia |work= Fox News |date= 6 February 2019 |access-date= 6 February 2019 |title= Venezuela military sets up blockade on bridge to stop aid from Colombia |author = Suarez Sang, Lucia I.}}

The United Nations (UN) stated in 2018 that "[v]ast numbers of Venezuelans are starving, deprived of essential medicines, and trying to survive in a situation that is spiraling downwards with no end in sight";{{cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22646&LangID=E|title=OHCHR | Venezuela: Dire living conditions worsening by the day, UN human rights experts warn|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=20 March 2019 |date= 9 February 2018}} it recommended increased humanitarian funding for Venezuelans in 2019,{{cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/02/08/la-onu-urge-aumentar-financiamiento-para-programas-de-ayuda-humanitaria-a-venezolanos/|title=La ONU urge aumentar financiamiento para programas de ayuda humanitaria a venezolanos|date=8 February 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=9 February 2019}} and cautioned not to politicize aid.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-un/un-warns-against-politicizing-humanitarian-aid-in-venezuela-idUSKCN1PV2GF|title=UN warns against politicizing humanitarian aid in Venezuela|date=9 February 2019|work=Reuters |author= Nichols, Michelle}} The UN said that "humanitarian action needs to be independent of political, military or other objectives", and calls for a de-escalation of tension from both sides.{{cite news |url= https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/21/americas/venezuela-aid-power-struggle-intl/index.html |title= Aid is piling up on Venezuela's border. Here's why it's not getting in |work= CNN |author= Pozzebon, Stefano |date= 21 February 2019 |access-date= 22 February 2019}}

The International Committee of the Red Cross "warned the United States about the risks of delivering humanitarian aid to Venezuela without the approval of security forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro". It also said its ability to work in the current environment in Venezuela was limited" and that it could "not ... implement things that have a political tone".{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/red-cross-warns-u-s-about-risks-of-sending-aid-to-venezuela|title=Red Cross warns U.S. about risks of sending aid to Venezuela|date=1 February 2019|access-date=17 February 2019|publisher=PBS}} For the Red Cross, maintaining a neutral stance in political situations is most important; the organization holds that, for aid to be effective, both sides of the conflict should come to agreement. Having worked with local authorities inside Venezuela for a long time delivering relief,{{cite web|url=https://fair.org/home/western-media-fall-in-lockstep-for-cheap-trump-rubio-venezuela-aid-pr-stunt/|title=Western Media Fall in Lockstep for Cheap Trump/Rubio Venezuela Aid PR Stunt|publisher=Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting |author=Adam Johnson|date=9 February 2019}} in February 2019 the organization had talks with the Venezuelan Ministry of Health about increasing its budget. Later in the month it doubled its Venezuela budget to €15.8 million (US$17.9 million).{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/red-cross-expands-venezuela-operations-crisis-grows-180712198.html|title=Red Cross expands Venezuela operations as crisis grows|date=7 February 2019|access-date=17 February 2019|publisher=Yahoo News|agency=AFP}}

On 16 April 2021, a report released by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Agency for International Development concluded that the February deployment of aid responded in part to pressure Maduro rather than helping Venezuelans. The report also said that the U.S. aid to Venezuela did not fully comply with humanitarian principles.{{Cite news|date=30 April 2021|title=U.S. aid to Venezuela was not aligned with humanitarian principles, audit finds|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-aid-effort-venezuela-was-not-aligned-with-humanitarian-principles-audit-finds-2021-04-30/}}

The US pledged $20 million,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/pompeo-pledges-20m-aid-package-to-venezuela-after-request-from-maduro-opposition-leader|title=Pompeo pledges $20M aid package to Venezuela after request from Maduro opposition leader|author=Gehrke, Joel|date=24 January 2019|work=WashingtonExaminer|access-date=28 January 2019}} and Canada pledged $53 million Canadian dollars in humanitarian aid, saying most of it would go to Venezuela's neighbors and trusted partners.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190204-canadas-trudeau-announces-53-million-aid-venezuelans|title=Canada's Trudeau announces $53 million in aid to Venezuelans|date=4 February 2019|work=France 24|access-date=4 February 2019}} Germany,{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-germany-maas/germany-to-release-5-million-euros-of-aid-for-venezuela-when-circumstances-allow-it-idUSKCN1PT0XQ|title=Germany to release 5 million euros of aid for Venezuela when circumstances allow it|date=4 February 2019|access-date=4 February 2019|work=Associated Press}} Sweden,{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=7146710|title=Sweden sending aid to Venezuela as political crisis deepens|date=1 February 2019|work=Radio Sweden|access-date=4 February 2019}} Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the European Commission also pledged aid. At the Conference on Humanitarian Assistance in Support of Venezuela hosted by the OAS in Washington, D.C., John Bolton announced that 25 countries pledged US$100 million for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Venezuela via centers in Curaçao, Colombia and Brazil.{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/world/us-announces-25-countries-to-give-100-million-aid-to-crisis-hit-venezuela-2037055.html|title=US Announces 25 Countries to Give $100 Million Aid to Crisis-hit Venezuela|date=15 February 2019|work=News18|access-date=16 February 2019}}

• {{flag|Argentina}}: The Argentine government highlighted the creation of a "help unit" to face the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, this unit will serve as a bridge between donations from the country to the collection centers located on the border with Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-argentina-crea-unidad-ayuda-humanitaria-atender-necesidades-venezolanos-20190215064241.html|title=Argentina crea una unidad para ayuda humanitaria y atender las necesidades de los venezolanos|trans-title=Argentina creates a unit for humanitarian aid and meet the needs of Venezuelans|access-date=21 February 2019|date=15 February 2019|website=Europapress|language=es}}
• {{flag|Canada}}: The Canadian government announced that it will provide US$39 million of humanitarian aid in Venezuela during a meeting of the Lima Group in early February 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elpais.com.co/mundo/canada-anuncia-39-millones-de-dolares-en-ayudas-humanitarias-para-venezuela.html|title=Canadá anuncia 39 millones de dólares en ayudas humanitarias para Venezuela|trans-title=Canada announces $ 39 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela|access-date=21 February 2019|newspaper=El País|date=4 February 2019 |language=es}}
• {{flag|Chile}}: Undersecretary of Interior of the Chilean government, Rodrigo Ubilla, reported on the preparation of 17 tons of food and medicine to Venezuela; said shipment would be sent directly to Venezuela once it is allowed to enter the country.{{Cite web|url=http://t13.cl/noticia/mundo/chile-prepara-17-toneladas-ayuda-humanitaria-venezuela|title=Chile prepara envío de 17 toneladas de ayuda humanitaria para Venezuela|trans-title=Chile prepares 17 tons of humanitarian aid for Venezuela|access-date=21 February 2019|website=T13|date=15 February 2019 |language=es}}
• {{flag|Germany}}: The German government destined €5 million for humanitarian aid in Venezuela, to deliver it "as soon as the political circumstances permit".{{Cite web|url=http://www.caraotadigital.net/internacionales/alemania-ayuda-humanitaria-venezuela/|title=Alemania otorgará 5 millones de euros en ayuda humanitaria para Venezuela|trans-title=Germany will grant 5 million euros in humanitarian aid for Venezuela|access-date=21 February 2019|last1=Carballo|first1=Betzimar|date=4 February 2019|website=Caraota Digital|language=es}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{flag|Italy}}: The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, agreed to send two million euros for humanitarian aid in Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=http://puntodecorte.com/italia-dos-millones-venezuela/|title=Italia destina dos millones de euros en ayuda humanitaria para Venezuela|trans-title=Italy destines two million euros in humanitarian aid for Venezuela|access-date=21 February 2019|date=14 February 2019|website=Punto de Corte|language=es|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312061603/https://puntodecorte.com/italia-dos-millones-venezuela/|url-status=usurped}}
• {{Flag|Japan}}: Foreign Minister of Japan Tarō Kōno condemned the Maduro government for violently repressing the attempted entrance of aid and stated that Japan supports the shipment of international aid to Venezuelans in need.{{Cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_36/|title=Kono condemns Maduro govt. for blocking aid|date=26 February 2019|website=NHK|language=en|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226132801/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190226_36/|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=dead}}
• {{flag|South Korea}}: The government of South Korea pledged US$3 million in aid to support the refugee and humanitarian crisis; US$1 million is earmarked for Venezuela for food and medicine, with the remaining $US2 million to go to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru for refugee support.{{cite news |url= https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190405007800315 |title= S. Korea to offer $3 million worth of aid related to Venezuela crisis |work= YONHAP News Agency |date= 5 April 2019 |access-date= 6 April 2019}}
• {{flag|Spain}}: The government of Spain, through the Office of Humanitarian Action of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), indicated that it would allocate €2 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela by the year 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/Espana-destinara-millones-humanitaria-Venezuela_0_868263403.html|title=España destinará al menos 2 millones en ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela en 2019|trans-title=Spain will allocate at least 2 million in humanitarian aid to Venezuela in 2019|access-date=21 February 2019|newspaper=El Diario|date=15 February 2019 |language=es}}
• {{flag|Sweden}}: The Swedish government destined 53 million Swedish krona (about US$7 million) for the humanitarian aid requested by Guaidó.{{Cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=7146710|title=Sweden sending aid to Venezuela as political crisis deepens|access-date=21 February 2019|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=February 2019 |last1=Engberg |first1=Ulla |last2=Radosevich |first2=Frank }}
• {{flag|Taiwan}}: The government of Taiwan destined 500 thousand dollars for the humanitarian aid to Venezuela and the chancellor Joseph Wu declared that "Venezuela needs democracy and an immediate economic stability".{{cite web|url=http://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/taiwan-donara-500-mil-dolares-para-ayuda-humanitaria-en-venezuela-104004|title=Taiwán donará 500 mil dólares para ayuda humanitaria en Venezuela|trans-title=Taiwan will donate 500 thousand dollars for humanitarian aid in Venezuela|access-date=25 February 2019|date=14 February 2019|website=NTN24|language=es}}
• {{flag|United Kingdom}}: The government of the United Kingdom indicated that it will initially allocate £6.5 million in emergency assistance packages that will supply children's nutrients, vaccines and clean water for the most vulnerable communities affected by the crisis in Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-aid-to-provide-life-saving-assistance-for-venezuelans|title=UK aid to provide life-saving assistance for Venezuelans|access-date=21 February 2019|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom}}
• {{flag|United States}}: The United States government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID) sent several shipments of food and medicine to Cúcuta, hoping it can enter Venezuela as soon as possible.{{Cite web|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/16/venezuela-ayuda-huanitaria-estados-unidos-cucuta-colombia-voluntarios-guaido/|title=Venezuela: Estados Unidos manda segunda fase de ayuda humanitaria a Cúcuta|trans-title=Venezuela: United States sends second phase of humanitarian aid to Cúcuta|access-date=21 February 2019|date=16 February 2019|publisher=CNN en Español|language=es}} In turn, Puerto Rico sent 2.5 tons of food and medicines to the collection center located in Cúcuta.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/politica/33291/ayuda-de-puerto-rico-llega-a-frontera-de-venezuela-con-colombia|title=Ayuda humanitaria de Puerto Rico llega a frontera de Venezuela con Colombia|trans-title=Humanitarian aid from Puerto Rico reaches the border of Venezuela with Colombia|access-date=21 February 2019|date=16 February 2019|newspaper=El Universal|language=es}}

• {{flag|Bolivia}}: President Evo Morales described the humanitarian aid shipments as a "Trojan horse" and a pretext for military intervention.{{Cite web |title=Concerts on Venezuela border herald aid attempt – DW – 02/22/2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/rival-concerts-on-colombia-venezuela-border-herald-aid-convoy-attempt/a-47639636 |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=dw.com |language=en}}{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
• {{flag|China}}: Spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said that humanitarian aid should not be forced into Venezuela, which can cause violence and clashes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-china/china-says-humanitarian-aid-should-not-be-forced-into-venezuela-idUSKCN1QB0TT|title=China says humanitarian aid should not be forced into Venezuela|date=22 February 2019|website=Reuters}} Following the clashes over humanitarian aid shipments, China said it hoped that the international community can provide "constructive" help to Venezuela under the precondition of respecting the country's sovereignty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-china/china-says-hopes-world-provides-constructive-help-to-venezuela-idUSKCN1QE0YW?il=0|title=China says hopes world provides 'constructive' help to Venezuela|date=25 February 2019|website=Reuters}} In late March 2019, a Chinese plane delivered what "Venezuelan officials said was a 65-ton cargo of medical supplies".
• {{flag|Cuba}}: The Cuban government called humanitarian aid "an attack on the sovereignty of the region".{{Cite web |date=2019-02-04 |title=Cuban Foreign Minister Calls to Protect Our America from Interference - Radio Reloj, emisora cubana de la hora y las noticias - Radio Reloj, emisora cubana de la hora y las noticias |url=https://www.radioreloj.cu/news/international-news/cuban-foreign-minister-calls-to-protect-our-america-from-interference/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www.radioreloj.cu |language=en-US}}{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
• {{flag|Russia}}: The Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the humanitarian aid was only a "cover" for a US military intervention.{{cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/actualidad/crisis-venezuela-rusia-denuncia-estados-unidos-prepara-violento-cambio-regimen-nicolas-maduro-juan-guaido-noticia-nndc-605287|title=Rusia denuncia que Estados Unidos prepara un violento cambio de régimen en Venezuela|trans-title=Russia denounces that the United States prepares a violent regime change in Venezuela|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es|date=7 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019}} On 1 March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez that Russia will continue assist the Venezuelan authorities in resolving social and economic problems, including through the provision of "legitimate" humanitarian aid. It was also considering to send "mass supplies" of wheat to Venezuela, claiming those shipments will help normalize the humanitarian situation in the country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/2188315/russia-vows-more-support-venezuelan-friend-president|title=Russia vows more support for Venezuelan 'friend' President Nicolas Maduro, will also send more humanitarian aid|date=1 March 2019|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=3 March 2019}}

• {{flag|United Nations}} The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that "many of Venezuelans are starving, deprived of essential medicines and trying to survive in a situation in free fall without an end in sight".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22646&LangID=E|title=OHCHR: Venezuela: Dire living conditions worsening by the day, UN human rights experts warn|access-date=20 February 2019|publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights}} Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres, said it is "important that humanitarian aid be depoliticized and that the needs of the people guide in terms of when and how humanitarian aid is used."{{cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/venezuela/venezuela-onu-pide-ayuda-humanitaria-llegue-venezolanos-necesitan-noticia-605040|title=La ONU pide que la ayuda humanitaria llegue a venezolanos que la necesitan|trans-title=The UN calls for humanitarian aid to reach Venezuelans who need it|newspaper=El Comercio|language=es|date=6 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}
• {{flag|European Union}} The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, indicated that the European Union has already mobilized 60 million euros for Venezuela and will allocate an additional 5 million euros; Mogherini also affirmed that "humanitarian aid to Venezuela should not be politicized".{{cite web|url=https://publimetro.pe/actualidad/noticia-venezuela-union-europea-ayuda-humanitaria-no-debe-politizada-nndc-98148|title=Unión Europea: "Ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela no debe ser politizada"|trans-title=European Union: "Humanitarian aid to Venezuela should not be politicized"|newspaper=Publimetro|language=es|date=7 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124101/https://publimetro.pe/actualidad/noticia-venezuela-union-europea-ayuda-humanitaria-no-debe-politizada-nndc-98148|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.svg}} The OAS approved a resolution on 27 March 2019 to "urge the public institutions of Venezuela, especially the military and police forces, to refrain from blocking the entry of humanitarian aid to Venezuela."{{cite news |url= https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2019/03/27/la-oea-aprobo-una-resolucion-que-pide-la-entrada-de-ayuda-en-venezuela/ |work= InfoBae |language= es |date= 27 March 2019 |access-date= 6 April 2019 |title= La OEA aprobó una resolución que exige la entrada de ayuda en Venezuela}} Voting in favor were 19 countries; against 5 (Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela); and 8 countries abstained (Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago). Dominica and Grenada were absent.{{cite press release |url= https://usoas.usmission.gov/oas-approves-resolution-on-humanitarian-assistance-for-the-venezuelan-people/ |publisher= US Mission to the Organization of American States |title= OAS approves Resolution on Humanitarian Assistance for the Venezuelan People |date= 27 March 2019 |access-date= 6 April 2019}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Red Cross.svg}} The Venezuelan Red Cross affirmed that it will participate in the distribution of the aid while remaining outside the presidential crisis.{{cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/venezuela/cruz-roja-venezolana-dispuesta-a-distribuir-ayuda-humanitaria-323234|title=Cruz Roja venezolana, dispuesta a distribuir ayuda humanitaria|trans-title=Venezuelan Red Cross, ready to distribute humanitarian aid|newspaper=El Tiempo|language=es|date=5 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}} Coversely, the Colombian Red Cross declared that it will not participate in the operation without prior agreement with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.icrc.org/es/document/declaracion-sobre-venezuela-del-movimiento-de-la-cruz-roja-en-colombia|title=Declaración conjunta del Movimiento Internacional de la Cruz Roja y Media Luna Roja en Colombia|date=4 February 2019 |trans-title=Joint Declaration of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Colombia|publisher=International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|language=es}}

{{further|Venezuelan crisis defection}}

Guaidó encouraged military personnel and security officials to withdraw support from Maduro.{{cite news |url= https://www.npr.org/2019/03/21/705464149/1-000-venezuelan-armed-forces-have-fled-across-border-says-colombian-government |publisher= NPR |title= 1,000 Venezuelan Armed Forces have fled across border, says Colombian Government |date= 21 March 2019 |access-date= 15 April 2019 }} During the attempt to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela, hundreds of lower level troops fled across the border to seek refuge in Colombia. As of 5 April 2019, since the border clashes on 23 February began, 1,285 Venezuelan military personnel and police have broken ranks.{{cite news |url= http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/1225-militares-venezolanos-colombia-esperan-estatus-refugiados_277913 |work= El Nacional |date= 5 April 2019 |access-date= 5 April 2019 |title= 1.225 militares venezolanos en Colombia esperan el estatus de refugiados |trans-title= 1,225 Venezuelan military await refugee status in Colombia|quote= De los 1.285 militares y policías venezolanos que, según Migración Colombia, han ingresado al país desde febrero pasado, 1.225 están obligados a renovar el salvoconducto de permanencia cada mes. (Of the 1,285 Venezuelan police and military that, according to Colombian Migration, have entered the country since the past February, 1,225 are obligated to renew their status each month.)}}

• Censorship and media control during the Venezuelan presidential crisis
• COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
• Humanitarian intervention
• Pemon conflict
• Venezuela–Colombia migrant crisis

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shipping of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, 2019}}

Category:2019 in Brazil

Category:2019 in Colombia

Category:2019 in the Netherlands

Category:2019 in the United States

Category:Venezuelan presidential crisis

Category:Brazil–Venezuela relations

Category:Colombia–Venezuela relations

Category:Crisis in Venezuela

Category:February 2019 in Venezuela

Category:Health in Venezuela

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Category:Netherlands–Venezuela relations

Category:Political repression in Venezuela

Category:First Trump administration controversies

Category:United States–Venezuela relations

Category:International reactions to the crisis in Venezuela

Category:Violations of medical neutrality