Conflict humanitarian assistance : Venezuela's President Maduro closes border with Brazil

In the conflict to the humanitarian aid for Venezuela ordered by President Nicolás Maduro, the closure of the border to the neighboring country of Brazil. "As of today, the border with Brazil remains closed," the President said on Thursday at a meeting with high-ranking military. Previously, the socialist government had already closed the border to the Dutch Caribbean Islands Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. Venezuelans took advantage of the few hours before the closure of the Border for hamster purchases in the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima, as the news portal G1 reported. The Brazilian government did not comment on Maduro's projects.

"We run as fast as possible against the time to cross the border," - quoted by G1, the 22-year-old Venezuelans Genson Medina. At 17 o'clock local time (21.00 CET), the limit was still passable, they should be closed according to Maduro's words in the night until further notice. In Pacaraima, in the Brazilian state of Roraima business people reported the Double of the other customer's traffic, such as G1 reported.

"I believe that the Venezuelans had come, that the border is closed," said the Brazilian dealer Orandir Cardoso to G1. On Wednesday, residents of the Venezuelan city of Santa Elena de Uairén, had observed tanks moving away and the military where only 15 kilometers from the border with Brazil, such as G1 continues to write. This was widely used in the social networks quickly.

The border to Colombia is closed to vehicles for years to a large extent. "I also think about the total closure of the border to Colombia," said Maduro. "I want an open border without any provocation and aggression, but as a head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I am committed to peace and to guarantee peace."

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Also in Colombia are auxiliary goods

pedestrian can cross the border between Venezuela and Colombia so far. Every day thousands of Venezuelans come over pedestrian bridges to Colombia, in order to go shopping, to the doctor or to work. In addition, many Venezuelans use the border crossings to Colombia, to leave the country permanently.

Maduro accuses the Colombian government of President Iván Duque again and again, to forge, together with the Venezuelan Opposition and the United States a conspiracy against his government. "I'm Iván Duque for each type of violence, which could erupt on the border between Colombia and Venezuela". For Friday, a benefit concert for Venezuela was planned on the Colombian side of the border. On the other side of the border Maduro government under the slogan "hands off Venezuela wanted to organize" a concert.

In the Colombian border town of Cúcuta tons of available relief goods from the United States for the suffering of the population in Venezuela. Also in Brazil, the collection sites for food and drugs should be established. The Brazilian government of the right-wing populist President Jair Bolsonaro supported in the power struggle in Venezuela, Maduro's opponent, the self-appointed interim President, Juan Guaidó.

President Maduro keeps the supplies for a pretext for military Intervention and has instructed the armed forces to let them into the country. Guaidó has announced to bring the relief goods on Saturday with the help of volunteers in the country. According to the Opposition on Thursday, a further 50 tonnes of relief supplies from Miami, were flown to Curaçao.

U.S. Secretary of state Pompeo: "This is a man-made catastrophe"

Venezuela suffers from a severe economic and supply crisis. Due to lack of foreign exchange, once a country is rich in hardly any foods can introduce, medicines and things of daily needs. Many people go hungry, approximately three million Venezuelans have left their home already.

"This is a man-made disaster," said US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Thursday the TV channel NBC. "On the weekend we will try the relief goods to deliver for the American people, our taxpayers generously paid for. We hope that we can get them over the border.“

the Catholic Church Also called on Maduro to make the deliveries happen. "The country needs humanitarian aid," it said in a Thursday statement published by the Venezuelan bishops ' conference. To ask "for help and to accept it, is treason, not a country, but a moral obligation."

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Venezuela opposition leader Guaidó relief supplies Buskonvoi want to get into the country

The bishops appealed to the military to stop the deliveries. "We invite the armed forces to stand on the side of the people," it said in the opinion. "You should obey no orders directed against the life and safety of the population." (dpa)