UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th February, 2019) The United Nations is ready to expand its activities to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Thursday.
"Since November, UN agencies have been scaling up to deal with the humanitarian problems that exist inside Venezuela to meet urgent health, nutrition and protection needs," Dujarric said. "We continue to work on those, and we will scale up our activities."
Dujarric pointed out that in order to effect a peaceful settlement in Venezuela, the parties there should hold a series of negotiations for the well-being of the Venezuelan people.
In addition, humanitarian aid should never be politicized by any side involved in the crisis, Dujarric added.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week responded to a letter sent by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido in which he sought humanitarian assistance, and said the United Nations stands ready to increase aid to Venezuela.
On January 23, Guaido declared himself to be Venezuela's interim president. President Nicolas Maduro has said the move was orchestrated by the United States as part of an anti-government coup in Venezuela and he informed Washington of his decision to sever diplomatic relations.
Venezuela is facing a worsening humanitarian emergency, including food and medicine shortages. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide reached 3 million in 2018.
