Venezuela: Christian organizations refuse to abandon the Venezuelan people

Venezuela is facing the most serious economic crisis in the country‚´s recent history. According to the World Economic Outlook (October 2018) of the IMF, the hyperinflation has led to shortages of food, medicine and other basic goods. This has caused the number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide to reach the three million mark, according to UNICEF Situation Report No. 3; 2.4 million of these refugees are hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Although the USA has sent humanitarian assistance, President Maduro instructed the army to block all deliveries of aid at the Brazilian and Colombian border, claiming this to be part of a US-led coup, as reported by Time on 22 February 2019. As a result of this measure, violence erupted and many truckloads of aid were set on fire. Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "The Bishop"s Conference of Venezuela has announced that it is stepping in the gap to officially receive and distribute humanitarian aid through the NGO Caritas (CEV, 21 February 2019). Other Christian organizations are also finding ways to provide humanitarian aid, as reported by Las2Orillas on 11 February 2019. However, the ruling party views anyone requesting and accepting foreign aid as a traitor and it is likely that reprisals will take place."