Maduro Announces Help for Colombians and Counter-Concert

Government of Venezuela announces the sending of aid for Colombians in need at the border

HAVANA TIMES – As if the food was in surplus in Venezuela, the Government of Nicolas Maduro announced Monday the shipment of 20,000 boxes from the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP) to the vulnerable population of the Colombian city of Cucuta, located on the border of Colombia and Venezuela, reported Europa Press.

Parallel to the food distribution Venezuelan health professionals will offer a day of free medical attention aimed at the child population of that Colombian town, the vice president of Communication, Culture and Tourism of the Venezuelan Government, Jorge Rodriguez, explained at a press conference.

The delivery of food will be made on Friday February 22 and Saturday the 23^rd coinciding with the celebration of the Hands Off Venezuela peace concert, proposed by Venezuelan and international artists to be held at the Simon Bolívar International Bridge.

“On Friday, February 22 and Saturday, February 23, there will be an immense concert on the Simon Bolívar International Bridge, on the Venezuelan side of course, which will be a message for the whole world, a message for life, a message for peace,” Rodriguez explained.

Rodriguez said the Maduro government has already received numerous requests for participation of singers, activists and poets in this event, so they decided to do it over two days. At the moment the two slogans for promoting the event are known: “Para la Guerra Nada” (Nothing for War), a reference to a song by the singer Marta Gomez and “Hands off Venezuela”.

The Simon Bolívar Bridge is one of the five that connect the Colombian city of Cúcuta with the Venezuela state of Táchira. On the Colombian side there is a sector called La Parada, which is similar to an open-air market.

In that area Colombia has been organizing for several days, for that same date, on February 22, a mega concert in defense of the entry of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, and in support of the opposition and self-proclaimed president of Venezuela, Juan Guaido.

The United States has already sent several plane loads of supplies to the border, which was visited on Sunday by US Senator Marco Rubio.

Aside from the humanitarian crisis and massive exodus of its citizens, Venezuela is mired in a political crisis since the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, on January 23, proclaimed himself president in charge of the country after not recognizing the new 6-year mandate of President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States and some 50 countries have recognized Guaidó as the legitimate president and have warned that there are several options “on the table,” including military intervention.

Guaido himself has repeatedly called for an uprising by the army and has announced an amnesty for those who join the rebellion. Since then, Maduro has appeared at numerous activities surrounded by military officers, to emphasize the top brass support for his government.

Meanwhile, dozens of other countries have voiced their disapproval of a possible foreign military intervention in Venezuela.  Some also criticize the US sanctions on Maduro government officials as another form of intervening in the country’s sovereign affairs.