kamigami

Since yesterday, two friends and I started supporting the https://queestapasando.home.blog platform by translating the news from the crisis in #Venezuela to English.

If anyone needs more details or wants to have a deeper conversation about the issue, I am always available to talk about it. Just DM me. As a Venezuelan seeing all of this from outside, informing others is all I can do to support my people.

Previous posts on humanitarian and political context.

  The humanitarian aid plan:

- International humanitarian aid (food and medicines) was supposed to enter Venezuelan territory this Saturday 02/23 on trucks through the Colombian and Brazilian borders, and by a ship from Curazao.

- On the 22nd, thousands of volunteers from all over Venezuela and Colombia mobilized to the border to help carry out the process.

  Repression at the border:

- On the night of the 22nd, repression started in the southern town of Santa Elena de Uairen (next to the Brazilian border) where indigenous communities in support of the aid were attacked by the National Guard forces, resulting in a woman being murdered.

- On the 23rd, in an attempt by volunteers and National Assembly members to get the aid into Venezuela, the National Guard and Police burned three of four trucks coming from Colombia.

- Among flames and heavy repression from Venezuelan police forces, volunteers tried to salvage the supplies before they caught fire; keeping some of it safe back in Colombian territory.

- The ship coming from Curazao was threatened by the Venezuelan navy once it got close to its waters, so they had to turn back, and it is now waiting in Bonaire.

  Reactions from the military:

- Given the tensions in the border, more than 100 military members have crossed to Colombia so far and recognized Juan Guaido as President.

  The Venezuelan side:

- Most of what you hear and see comes from the Colombian side of the border, where international media has been able to show the world what’s happening.

- In the Venezuelan side of each entry point, repression has been severe. The only information about it has come from volunteers and locals reporting through social media.

- Nine different Venezuelan states reported that their local protests had been attacked by paramilitary armed groups in favor of Maduro. A big part of the regime's tactics to gain social control has been the arming of said paramilitary groups who are loyal to them and work in coordination with government armed forces to suppress the opposition.

  Results:

- Four people were killed during yesterday's events. Four more are still to be confirmed.

- 295 were injured all over the country, most of them in border towns with Colombia and Brazil.

- 9 Pemones —indigenous Venezuelan people— were taken by the military and are still missing. Entire Pemón communities are being forced out of their villages due to violence.

- The fourth truck with aid coming from Colombia and the one coming from Brazil turned back to remain safe on the other side of the Venezuelan borders.

- Tomorrow (February 25th) most Latin American presidents will meet with Guaidó to discuss what happened and determine new joint actions to face the crisis. Mike Pence (US Vice President) will also attend the meeting.

  Finally, the world has seen firsthand what Venezuelans have gone through for the past 20 years. Venezuela is a country kidnapped by a gang of criminals that threatens the whole region.

 I have tried to include all the facts that are relevant and help explain the complex Venezuelan situation. However, it is hard because a lot of things happen every day and I’m emotionally attached to the situation.

Previous post on the humanitarian crisis context. Next post on international situation and border crisis.

  Juan Guaido as interim president:

- The National Assembly is the last democratically elected body left in the country. When the opposition won those elections, Maduro created a parallel legislative body only with his supporters and claimed that the Legitimate National Assembly was unconstitutional.

- Illegal presidential elections were held in 2018 but not recognized under our constitution. Therefore, In January 2019 Maduro’s presidential term came to an end.

- Without any legitimate president to take the seat, the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, took the seat as interim president to call for elections and re-establish democracy (mandated in Art. 233 and 350 of the Venezuelan Constitution).

- Immediately, massive protests began all over the country in support of the National Assembly's move.

  International support:

- Guaido and the National Assembly's legitimacy have been recognized by more than 50 nations (most Latin American countries, the US, Canada, and the European Union).

  The Venezuelan military:

- Maduro keeps the support of the high-rank Venezuelan military. Most of them are related to drug trafficking groups and severe corruption cases.

- Since January 23rd, some mid and low-range military members have recognized Guaido as president and have been forced to leave the country.

- As the humanitarian crisis is the biggest problem we face, Guaido called for the support of the international community to address the issue.

Next posts on the political context and the border crisis.

 Venezuela is undergoing a severe humanitarian crisis. Here are some numbers:

- Venezuelan inflation rate reached 2,500,000% in 2018. It is expected to reach 10,000,000% at the end of 2019.

- More than 70,000 HIV patients are not receiving treatment.

- Maternal mortality increased by 65% and child mortality by 30%.

- At least 1,557 patients have died in the last three months in Venezuelan hospitals due to lack of treatment.

- 75% of Emergency Rooms lack morphine and 66% lack blood pressure treatment.

- People face a 90% scarcity of products in pharmacies and supermarkets.

 All this is aggravated by the food crisis and rampant violence:

-80% of households are in a situation of food insecurity and the average Venezuelan lost 11 kilos in 2017 (25 pounds).

- 48% of pregnant mothers suffer from malnutrition.

- The government hasn’t published health data since 2015 and homicide data since 2012.

- Around 40% of homicides in Caracas are perpetrated by police officers in low-income communities to silence their discomfort.

- More than three million Venezuelans have left the country amid the crisis. Most of them have done so by foot, crossing the Andes mountains to find better opportunities in neighboring countries.

- The Venezuelan exodus has been the biggest in Latin American history, affecting the whole region.

- Only in 2018, there were 12,715 protests across the country.

 Additionally, political persecution and repression have risen with the crisis:

- Between April and July 2017, more than 120 people were killed, around 2,000 injured, and more than 5,000 detained for protesting.

- So far in 2019, over 40 people have been killed because of protesting.

- During the last week of January, 988 people were illegally detained. 137 of them were minors.

- Many of those detained have been tortured and murdered while in police custody.

 “Why can't I see that on the news?":

- There is no freedom of speech in Venezuela. All TV networks and newspapers have been silenced. State-owned networks are the only ones currently on air.

- Venezuelans can ONLY see the news online and through social media, which is not accessible to everyone.

- 19 media workers have been deported and, in only one week of January 2019, at least 11 more were detained.