With border blocked, desperate Venezuelans ask how U.S. aid will arrive

URENA, Venezuela/CUCUTA, Colombia (Reuters) – Desperate Venezuelans asked on Wednesday how they would gain access to U.S. food and medicine aid due to arrive via the Colombia border after President Nicolas Maduro’s government blocked the frontier crossing to any humanitarian shipments.

Despite widespread hunger and shortages of staple goods in Venezuela, Maduro vowed to turn back U.S. aid after President Donald Trump’s administration last month recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the rightful interim ruler of the South American nation.

Venezuelan security forces blocked the three-lane border crossing from the Colombian town of Cucuta on Tuesday using two shipping containers and a fuel tanker. Armed Venezuelan soldiers stood guard at the customs building, pledging to turn back any attempt to cross the border.

U.S. officials told Reuters aid was on its way this week.

Colombian and U.S. authorities have remained silent on how they plan to distribute the aid without Maduro’s approval.

Shipments are also due to come from Venezuelan companies abroad, Colombia, Canada and Germany.