nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Due to the collapse of the health system, children, patients with chronic conditions, people with disabilities, and pregnant woman are particularly vulnerable. According to the latest available data, maternal mortality increased by over 65% from 2015 to 2016, and 756 deaths were recorded in 2016. Analysis from The Lancet found that in 2016 the infant mortality rate was 21.1 deaths per 1,000 live birth, nearly 1.4 times the rate in 2008  ( 15 deaths per 1,000 live birth ) . Although no new data is available, it can be assumed that those rates have grown alongside the deterioration of the health system in the past few years  ( The Lancet 01/03/2019, Government of Venezuela 31/12/2016 ) . 25,000 pregnant women did not receive prenatal care, and some 7,500 were only checked in the eighth and ninth months of their pregnancy  ( Caracas Chronicles 21/02/2019, CHE Health 09/2018 ) .
“People will come to our channel and say to us, ‘I desperately need these pills for my mom,'' María says. The moderators will put that plea out on the channel, and then hopefully someone else will privately tell them they have it. “Then we will arrange for them to get it, and we make it so these people never actually need to meet each other.'
Venezuelans face an overwhelming shortage of medicine; in 2017, the country's pharmaceutical federation estimated85 percentof medication needs were being unmet. While the Maduro government has refused foreign aid froma number of countries, including the US,Venezuela Hasta Los Tuétanosmoderators have helped people find food and medical supplies, like hearing aids. They have warned people to keep their kids home from school on days when listeners report that the government is arresting people on the street.
La reciente interrupción del abastecimiento de fluido eléctrico que afectó a todo el país ha agravado esta situación, al reducir aún más el acceso de la población a los alimentos, el agua y los medicamentos, y también ha afectado gravemente a los hospitales. Todavía no se conoce todo el alcance de los daños ni el número de víctimas directas, pero este prolongado apagón simboliza los problemas de infraestructura que afronta el país. La escasez de agua y de gas natural y el colapso del transporte público también siguen afectando a muchas personas; esta situación, combinada con la hiperinflación, genera atroces condiciones económicas que han desencadenado miles de protestas sociales.
Washington, D.C. – En el contexto de la represión y obstaculización a la protesta, la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos  ( CIDH )  y su Relatoría Especial sobre Derechos Económicos, Sociales, Culturales y Ambientales  ( REDESCA )  manifiestan su profunda preocupación por la falta de servicio eléctrico y agua potable en Venezuela, y urgen al Estado venezolano a garantizar los derechos humanos de la población frente a la emergencia humanitaria que enfrenta el país.
La CIDH recabó información sobre las graves violaciones a los derechos humanos de los habitantes del país en el marco del apagón del sistema eléctrico, ocurrido el 7 de marzo de 2019 y prolongado intermitentemente hasta el 13 de marzo de 2019, lo que originó la falta de servicios básicos como el acceso al agua potable, la recolección de basura, los servicios telefónicos, la adquisición y abastecimiento de insumos alimenticios, entre otros. Asimismo, la CIDH observa con preocupación que esta situación ha provocado la pérdida de vidas humanas, deterioro de la salud y de los servicios sanitarios, detenciones arbitrarias de personas por manifestar su descontento con la situación, falta de gas doméstico y agua potable, la utilización de aguas residuales para consumo personal, obstaculización del acceso a la información y a la libertad de expresión, y dificultades en el transporte público.
On Thursday, Venezuela's intelligence forcesdetainedthe chief of staff forJuan Guaidó, the opposition leader who claims to be the country's legitimate president and who is backed by the United States. In an overnight raid, they seized Roberto Marrero from his home shortly after also nabbing dozens of journalists and two state utility workers.
Adicionalmente, la CIDH observa con preocupación la especial afectación de las mujeres pacientes que se encuentran en las salas de parto y áreas de emergencia, así como las condiciones de los recién nacidos del área de neonatología del Hospital Maternidad Concepción Palacios de Caracas. Según la información proporcionada, 15 mujeres y 275 recién nacidos habrían fallecido entre agosto y diciembre de 2018, en el referido hospital. Por lo anterior, el 18 de marzo de 2019, la CIDH otorgó medidas de protección  ( Resolución nº 13/2019 )  y solicitó al Estado venezolano, entre otras medidas, garantizar la provisión de insumos, medicamentos y servicios médicos adecuados para dar una atención efectiva a las emergencias dentro del ámbito de la salud sexual y reproductiva de las mujeres así como asegurar la infraestructura, electricidad y agua necesarios para tales servicios conforme a los estándares aplicables.
Por otro lado, la CIDH y la REDESCA toman nota que debido a la emergencia humanitaria, agravada por las fallas eléctricas, agudizaron la crisis existente en la distribución del agua potable en Venezuela. Observan con preocupación los hechos que se han reportado en algunas zonas periféricas de Caracas, donde se señaló que personas tienen que recurrir a recoger agua de vertientes naturales, desagües de alcantarilla y de canales urbanos debido a la falta de suministro de agua potable. Según la información proporcionada, habitantes de la Parroquia San Agustín en Caracas han tenido que recolectar agua en el río Guaire, el cual es alimentado por varios desagües de aguas servidas de la capital, lo que podría producir intoxicaciones por no ser apta para el consumo humano.
The U.S. Treasury said it was slapping the sanctions on Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela, including its subsidiaries in Uruguay and Bolivia. It also imposed sanctions on state owned Venezuelan commercial banks, including Banco de Venezuela and Banco Bicentenario.
The Treasury Department announcement came while the President Donald Trump met with leaders from five nations in the Caribbean that generally support the U.S. call for an end to Maduro's rule. Trump hosted them at his Mar a Lago club in Florida and pledged U.S. investment in their countries.
The Trump administration considers Maduro's government a dictatorship and says he was re elected in an illegitimate election. The U.S. has sanctioned scores of top Venezuelan officials and has blocked U.S. banks from doing business with Venezuela, putting a financial stranglehold on the cash strapped country. The country is in an economic meltdown and millions of Venezuelans have fled.
While United States imports of Venezuelan oil fell to zero this week, according to government statistics, Mr. Maduro is turning to other countries to buy the country's oil, even if at cheaper rates.
Colombia already has a backlog of over 2000 people in its asylum system and registering Venezuelans for refugee status determination would be slow and cumbersome. When I asked the UNHCR staff member at the Cúcuta border how many of the roughly 50,000 Venezuelans per day crossing the Simón Bolívar Bridge enquire about asylum, he said it was around five on average. In practice, most Venezuelans are protected against forced return, they have access to some basic humanitarian support, and, with registration, can access many of the same rights and social services as Colombian nationals. Meanwhile, many asylum seekers actually find themselves in a worse situation than regularised Venezuelan ‘migrants': unlike PEP  ( Permiso Especial de Permanencia )  carriers, they are not allowed to work and risk exclusion from the labour market for the duration of the asylum process.
The international community's predominant response to the Venezuelan migration crisis remains focused on humanitarian relief. This is important, for two populations: a )  the over 50,000 ‘pendular' migrants who go back and forth across the border every day in order to access food and basic services; b )  those who seek residency in Colombia or another country, and require immediate support in terms of food, shelter, and medical access.
At the moment, the only assistance available beyond the first few days is through opening public services for people who have regularised their immigration status, or through faith based organisations that assist regardless of status. In urban areas, for example, forms of ‘temporary vouchers for housing' might be considered that reduce the risk and offer viable return for Colombian landlords, while allowing arriving families to move from very short term shelters into medium term housing options.
Irregularity leads to horrendous outcomes for migrants. For example, I met 3 year old Esteban with his parents at the new Migrant Centre in Bogotá. Originally from Venezuela, they had spent the previous week walking 1000km from Quito in Ecuador because they had faced xenophobic backlash there. After arriving in Bogotá, they were given 3 days shelter accommodation but now faced homelessness, unemployment, and had no capital to set up a business. But irregularity is also likely to lead to negative externalities for Colombian society.
However, there are a range of arguments against adopting camps or settlements in Colombia. First, land is scarce and access to land is highly contested within Colombia. Identifying spaces for such settlements risks being divisive and exacerbating existing social conflicts. Second, the country has had a challenging recent experience of creating settlements for the demobilisation of armed actors, with limited success. Given these constraints, models based on sustainable spontaneous dispersal are likely to remain the most viable. Camps and settlements should be avoided, and full socio  economic inclusion should be supported through international responsibility sharing.
To maintain their hold over Venezuela, Mr. Maduro and his supporters have often used the nation's economic collapse to their advantage, dangling food before hungry voters, promising extra subsidies if he won, and demanding that people present identification cards tied to government rations when they came to the polls. But participants in the schemes say Mr. Maduro and his supporters have deployed another tool as well: Cuba's international medical corps.
Regional response Countries in the region have demonstrated remarkable generosity towards Venezuelans. Their solidarity is reflected in the adoption in November 2018 of the Quito Plan of Action on Human Mobility of Venezuelan citizens in the region. Signed by eight countries, it marked a significant step forward in harmonizing regional policies and practices, scaling up and coordinating the humanitarian response, and improving access to host States and rights.
Despite security, operational and financial constraints, UNHCR has been able to maintain the implementation of its community based projects in health, education, protection, water and sanitation for 54 prioritized host communities where refugees live. Nearly 775,000 people, including Colombian refugees and the Venezuelan host population, have already benefited. It requires a robust field presence to address priority needs as they evolve along political and security developments.
UNHCR has distributed drinking water, hygiene and dignity kits, blankets and snacks to refugees and migrants at the main border points, as well as cash based assistance to vulnerable Venezuelans in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
In Brazil, UNHCR is supporting the Brazilian Government with site planning and provision of safe shelter to Venezuelans arriving in border cities. So far, 13 temporary shelters have been opened which are hosting over 6,000 Venezuelans. Tents, relief items and drinking fountains have been provided, as well as biometric registration, community mobilisation, information dissemination and site management. Emergency shelters in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador have also received significant support.
UNHCR and its partners have established Protection and Support Networks throughout the region including inside Venezuela  ( the Bolivarian Republic of ) . These offer short term shelter, safety, specialized services and humanitarian assistance. UNHCR has also installed child friendly spaces and spaces for lactating mothers at border crossing points and is advocating with host Governments to facilitate access to education for Venezuelan children.
In an effort to curb growing xenophobia against Venezuelans and promote solidarity with them, UNHCR in collaboration with several partners has launched a number of campaigns. In 2018, Panama launched the “Somos lo Mismo' campaign, Peru launched “Tu Causa Es Mi Causa', Costa Rica launched the “Países Hermanos' campaign and UNHCR Colombia celebrated the first anniversary of “Somos Panas Colombia'. A regional anti xenophobia campaign will be launched in 2019. National anti  xenophobia campaigns will also be launched in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
On Wednesday  ( March 13 ) , an aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force  ( FAB )  took off with 225 Venezuelans from Boa Vista  ( the capital of the State of Roraima, some 200 kilometres from the border with Venezuela ) . The refugees and migrants chose to go to 13 different cities in Brazil and air transport was organized accordingly. More flights are scheduled over the next weeks. The voluntary relocation initiative began in April 2018 and now involves 50 different cities all over Brazil. It was designed to reduce the pressure on host communities in the north of Brazil, where refugees and migrants have been arriving from Venezuela, compelled to flee their country due the difficult socio economic, human rights and political situation.
Over 1,600 people in transit received guidance and self care advice that enabled them to migrate more safely, and they also received basic first aid. With support from the ICRC, the VRC established information points in seven bus stations, making connectivity tools   mobile phone chargers, wireless Internet and free phone calls   available to migrants and helping to reunite family members who have been separated.
The border closure between Colombia and Venezuela is straining humanitarian response efforts as organizations on the Colombian side work to meet the needs of migrants and refugees who can no longer move freely between the two countries. The border has remained closed since the Feb. 23 effort by the opposition government of Juan Guaidó to move desperately needed humanitarian aid supplies into the country.
The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, said the Venezuelan crisis will continue to force people to leave the country. "With more than 3.4 million, Venezuelans are the second largest refugee population in the world, second only to Syria, which has been at war for 7 years. And the forecasts indicate that by the end of 2019 the exodus will reach 5.4 million people," he said.
The magnitude and speed of the migratory flow of Venezuelans  the report adds  has similarities with other episodes that have resulted in massive crises of migrants and refugees in the world, which have been caused by conflicts such as in Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and South Sudan. "Independent reports say that at least 1.3 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees suffer from nutrition problems," the report adds.
The new facility in the border city of Maicao, in La Guajira region, has space for 350 people, with room for expansion if necessary, the UNHCR official explained.
“On average, we still see that about 5,000 people cross into the neighbouring countries, and from those neighbouring countries then proceed into other nations in the region,' Mr. Mahecic said. “Those numbers obviously fluctuate, but this is the average that we have been seeing for quite some time.'
el pueblo venezolano, que una vez residió en el país másricode América Latina, podría estar demasiado débil por el hambre para salir a las calles por mucho más tiempo, dijo una experta a la subcomisión de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado sobre América Latina.
El asediado presidente Nicolas Maduro no muestra signos de perder el apoyo crítico de las élites y los militares desde la declaración de Guaidó el 23 de enero, y los expertos advierten que la situación podría estar llegando a un “estancamiento dañino': un enfrentamiento que ninguno de los dos puede ganar y en el que ninguno aceptará dar marcha atrás.
Ahora, el tiempo y el sufrimiento diario en Venezuela, donde la persona promedio perdió casi 11 kilos el año pasado y el 90% vive en la pobreza, según el presidente de la subcomisión, Marco Rubio, se están convirtiendo en obstáculos.
Destacó igualmente que“80% de los hogares refleja vivir bajo inseguridad alimentaria. 9 de cada 10 hogares percibe ingresos insuficientes para comprar comida'.
Despite denying there is any humanitarian crisis, Mr Maduro announced this week that 300 tonnes of aid would be shipped from its ally Russia. Meanwhile, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the attempt to deliver aid could spark violence and be used as a pretext by the US to remove Mr Maduro.
While international pressure on the president has steadily increased   more than 50 countries, including the US and most Latin American nations, have recognised Mr Guaidó as interim leader   Mr Maduro has dismissed all calls for him to step down. Backed by China and Russia, Mr Maduro insists he is the only legitimate president.
Las comunidades locales, indígenas en su gran mayoría, en medio de la proliferante minería ilegal y de la expansión de grupos criminales o insurgentes enfrentan ahora las mayores dificultades. Expuestos al terror que generan los grupos armados que buscan imponer la obediencia, con tasas de homicidio que alcanzan picos extraordinarios en algunos pueblos mineros, estos residentes también se enfrentan a los efectos en su salud y en el ambiente de los derrames de mercurio y de una epidemia de malaria.
La crisis económica actual ha llevado a muchos venezolanos empobrecidos a trabajar en el sector de la minería ilegal. Actores armados estatales y no estatales, dentro de los cuales resaltan las guerrillas colombianas, también se han expandido en esta región rica en recursos. El rápido declive en la producción de petróleo ha convertido la minería de oro en una fuente vital de ingresos.
People living in the border regions between Colombia and Venezuela are further affected by another illegal armed group called Colectivo de Seguridad Fronteriza  ( Border Security Collective ) ; military investigations have shown how this group has managed to coexist along with different armed groups such as ELN, EPL, FBL and paramilitary groups.  ( El Colombiano 05/12/2018 )  These groups operate and infiltrate rural communities through radio, magazines, and direct recruitment of children. At the border, vulnerable migrants from Venezuela are likely to fall victim of armed groups.
Further, the influx of Venezuelans and returning Colombians affects the border region with Venezuela, increasing pressure on the food security of the host communities. Around 80% of the Venezuelans living in the country are considered food insecure.
La ayuda humanitaria que suma más de dos toneladas de elementos básicos de higiene personal, contienen insumos para recién nacidos como pañales, biberones, talco, toallas húmedas y sanitarias, cepillos para lavar biberones, vaselina, papel higiénico, jabón de ropa y baño, pasta y cepillos dentales, platos y detergente. Igualmente, vienen kits para asistencia de adultos mayores.
Guaido is trying to force the socialist leader from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections.
“If the opposition   and Trump administration   are trying to find ways to peel away military support for Maduro, threatening its monopoly on food distribution is not likely to be helpful in that regard,' said Cynthia J. Arnson, the Latin America director at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
The humanitarian aid "will be coming from three points located in the Colombian city of Cucuta on the border with Venezuela, in Brazil and on one of the islands in the Caribbean Sea," Guaido said.
The Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba condemns the escalation of pressures and actions of the US government in preparation for a military adventure under the guise of a humanitarian intervention in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and calls on the international community to mobilize in order to prevent its consummation.
Cucuta has gained international prominence as a collection point for foreign shipments of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, which have so far been rejected by the Maduro regime. It is also a first stop for many fleeing Venezuela; many of the needy children living there are in fact Venezuelan.
President Trump on Monday delivered his sharpest warning yet to Venezuela's military authorities in an increasingly tense showdown over that country's crisis, proclaiming they would “lose everything' by remaining loyal to President Nicolás Maduro and refusing to allow in emergency aid stockpiled on the border.
The Venezuelan crisis is not new. President Nicolás Maduro and those immediately around him bear primary responsibility: They've badly mismanaged the country, trampled its democratic institutions, stage managed elections, benefited from massive corruption, and brutally repressed protesters. The consequences are plain to see, if almost impossible to fathom. Although Venezuela is home to the world's largest oil reserves, its economy is in free fall.
The country faces widespread poverty, malnutrition, and diseases that not long ago had been eradicated. At least 3 million of its citizens probably far more have fled, to Colombia and elsewhere. The two sides engaged in various rounds of negotiations, but the political situation reached an impasse. The government stripped the opposition dominated National Assembly of any power; the bulk of the opposition boycotted the presidential elections and refused to recognize the newly reelected president.
La Oficina de Acción Humanitaria da respuesta a las diversas necesidades humanitarias en Venezuela, especialmente en dos sectores humanitarios clave: la seguridad alimentaria, atendiendo a los más de 4 millones de personas en situación de subnutrición en el país; y la protección de la salud, en un contexto en el que entre el 70% y 90% de medicinas y material hospitalario necesario no está disponible, según organizaciones humanitarias que trabajan en el país.
US officials and opposition leaders have explicitly stated that one of the goals of the aid is to weakenNicolás Maduro, by forcing the Venezuelan military to choose between blocking the aid caravan or disobeying their boss. The tactic also allows them to paint Maduro as a callous dictator who puts pride before his own starving people.
Meanwhile, Maduro and his circle deny there are food shortages in Venezuela – despitewidespreadreportsofchronic hungerin the country – and have portrayed the aid as a Trojan horse sent by the US and its allies. His vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, even went so far as to claim the food packages had beenpoisoned with carcinogens.
As assistant secretary of state during the Reagan administration, Abrams was involved in a secret arms deal in which the U.S. sought to trade missiles and other weapons to Iran and use the funds to support right wing paramilitaries known as the "contras," who were seeking to topple a leftist government in Nicaragua. In a 1991 plea agreement with an independent commission tasked with probing the scandal   which became known as the Iran Contra affair   Abrams admitted to lying to members of Congress about the clandestine deal. In 1992, he and other Reagan administration officials embroiled in the scandal were pardoned by former President George H. W. Bush.
Some diplomats and even opposition strategists have questioned the viability of organizing such a complex sea and land operation in 10 days. So far, Mr. Guaidó and his advisers have remained quiet about their plans to get the aid over the border. They have said the help would include $200 million in aid donations from friendly governments and the private sector, in addition to the American shipment.
“The opposition has created immense expectations, and it's not at all clear they have a plan for actually fulfilling them,' said David Smilde, a Venezuela analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America. “Furthermore, the opposition and the U.S. have not been clear that this aid, even if allowed in, will make a significant dent in Venezuela's humanitarian crisis.'
The minimum monthly salary in Venezuela is 18,000bolivars ( $5.47 ) .
Cuba said on Thursday it was clear the United States wanted to “forcibly establish a humanitarian corridor under international protection, invoking the obligation to protect civilians and applying all necessary measures.'
Hyperinflation under Mr Maduro's incompetent and larcenous administration has destroyed Venezuelans' incomes. The minimum wage is now worth less than $5 a month
But this has helped Mr Maduro, by making Venezuelans more dependent on his government. It distributes subsidised food, such as pasta, rice and cooking oil, only to holders of biometric identity cards which the regime also uses to gather data on citizens, and insists they show when voting. To break its monopoly on providing subsistence to Venezuelans would be a huge symbolic victory for Mr Guaidó and his government in waiting.
The US and Russia have proposed differing texts at the United Nations about resolving the crisis in Venezuela. Meanwhile, US humanitarian aid is stuck in bordering Colombia. Self proclaimed president Juan Guaido has said that he would use 'everything that was necessary' to make sure that the aid gets in. But President Nicolas Maduro has called this a 'show', vowing to block any attempts to bring in the aid from Colombia's border.
The tug of war between the government and opposition is centered on whether humanitarian aid will be allowed into the economically crippled country, which suffers shortages of food, medicine and other basics.
Venezuela's opposition announced Monday a new collection center for desperately needed supplies as it prepares to "send a message" to the military that's blocking humanitarian aid from entering the crisis wracked country with a mass street protest.
National Assembly president Guaido's envoys met with Brazilian officials in Brasilia and announced plans to establish a second aid storage center in the state of Roraima, on Venezuela's southeastern border.
“Esto es un tema obviamente muy polémico, pero haciendo uso de nuestra soberanía, el ejercicio de nuestras competencias, haremos lo necesario“, respondió este viernes Guaidó en entrevista con AFP, al ser preguntado si autorizaría una intervención de Estados Unidos o una fuerza extranjera.
El opositor, de 35 años, ha anunciado que en los próximas días llegarán más cargamentos y que se instalarán otros centros de acopio en el vecino Brasil y en una isla caribeña.
La respuesta de los militares le permitirá medir a Guaidó la unidad del mando de la Fuerza Armada, principal sostén de Maduro, según analistas.
El martes, el presidente de la Cruz Roja venezolana,Mario Villarroel, dijo que la institución podría colaborar con ladistribuciónde ayuda internacional una vez ingrese aVenezuela, pero rechazó participar en el proceso de entrada.
En total, las Naciones Unidas tienen 301 trabajadores en Venezuela y el plan de emergencia pretende llegar a 3,6 millones de personas, entre ellas dos millones de niños.
The Venezuelan Red Cross has more than 2,600 active volunteers across the country and operates eight hospitals and 38 outpatient clinics. In 2018 alone, these facilities provided services to more than 1 million Venezuelans.
Given the possibility that the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro prevents the entry of humanitarian aid, the interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, said that a foreign military intervention would be legal when it comes to securing humanitarian aid.
Millions of Venezuelans have migrated, and those left behind struggle to afford scarce supplies of food and medicine. Guaido called upon the international community for humanitarian aid. The world watches now whether Maduro's government will let the first shipments from United States cross its borders.
Venezuelan volunteers, Colombian firefighters and rescue workers prepare USAID humanitarian aid for storage at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge, near Cucuta, Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. Trucks carrying U.S. humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela arrived Thursday at the Colombian border, where opposition leaders vowed to bring them into their troubled nation despite objections from embattled President Nicolas Maduro.
The goods, including packaged corn flour, lentils and pasta, arrived Thursday in what the opposition is hoping will be the first of many shipments of humanitarian aid from countries around the world. Opposition leaders said three countries in the region will become aid hubs and that some nations, like Colombia, will likely have more than one collection site. The first shipment includes food kits for 5,000 Venezuelans and high protein nutritional supplements that can treat an estimated 6,700 young children with moderate malnutrition.
On Tuesday, the opposition said it would begin stocking warehouses near the Venezuelan border with supplies donated by the United States, Colombia and Venezuelans abroad. The humanitarian aid   baby formula, nutritional supplements, medicine and hospital supplies   could provide the opposition with a tangible way of weakening Mr. Maduro, who has long relied on food handouts to keep his political base loyal during the country's long economic collapse.
But international aid organizations and local activists are concerned not just about the many logistical and security problems but also about the prospect of using aid as a tool in a political contest.
Pharmacy shelves are often bereft of essential medicines, causing a fall in life expectancy and the re emergence of previously eradicated diseases, including diphtheria. The Venezuelan pharmaceutical industry association puts national medicine stocks at 20 percent of basic needs.
Spain, Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Hungary, Austria, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Sweden and Croatia have declared their recognition of Guaido, a decision that came after Maduro failed to comply with an ultimatum from several EU members to call a snap presidential election.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio said the Lima Group is focused on getting humanitarian aid into the country and called on Venezuela's military not to interfere. “We have also urged the national armed forces of Venezuela to recognize their commander in chief Juan Guaido, the acting president,'' he said through a translator.
The Lima group's objective in Venezuela is simple: remove President Nicolas Maduro from power. Made up of 13 Latin American countries and Canada, the group has declared Maduro's re election last May“illegitimate'and called for fresh elections in Venezuela. The group also followed the US' lead in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president earlier this month, with Mexico the only member state continuing to recognize Maduro.
Claiming his legitimacy from the constitution, the 35 year old National Assembly leader stunned the world when he proclaimed himself interim president on January 23, setting up a tense standoff with Maduro    with both men heading rival massive street rallies in Caracas on Saturday.
The US has said military invention remains an "option".
There are severe shortages of basic items such as medicine and food, and an inflation rate that last year saw prices doubling every 19 days on average.
Canada pledged $40m of aid on Monday, Germany has earmarked €5m while the US has already promised $20m. The need for aid is dire given what David Lipton, the deputy head of the International Monetary Fund, has called Venezuela's “unprecedented perfect storm' of food and nutrition crises, protracted hyperinflation, loss of capital and complex debt problems.
El primer ministro canadiense,Justin Trudeau, anfitrión de la cita, calificó el régimen de Maduro de “dictadura inaceptable' y anunció una partida de 53 millones de dólares estadounidenses en asistencia a Venezuela, que se suman a los 20 previamente anunciados por la Administración deDonald Trump. México, que junto a Uruguay mantiene una postura neutral, no acudió a la cumbre.
Pese a la creciente presión, el Ejército venezolano sigue respaldando a Maduro, que se niega a convocar elecciones y rechaza abrir un canal humanitario para distribuir la ayuda procedente de esos mismos países que le niegan la legitimidad como mandatario. Bajo la pugna por la ayuda subyace un pulso mucho más político: la población venezolanavive en una situación casi límite, con un retroceso económico de alrededor del 50% en los últimos cinco años  ( algo difícil de asumir en países que no se han visto golpeados por una guerra )  yuna hiperinflación que prácticamente ha roto el sistema de precios.
EE UU y Colombia están coordinando un primer intento de introducir un envío de ayudaesta misma semana en el país sudamericano, lo que pone a las fuerzas armadas en el brete de impedirlo y, con ello, impedir que lleguen a la población alimentos y medicinas.
La llegada de medicinas y alimentos, una reivindicación histórica de las fuerzas críticas con el oficialismo, supone otra nueva prueba para Maduro, cada vez más acorralado por la comunidad internacional, que ha rechazado la idea de recibir la ayuda, porque lo considera una intervención militar, un fantasma que agita continuamente. La oposición, no obstante, no ha aclarado cómo ni cuándo pretende hacer entrar la ayuda en territorio venezolano, y en caso de que lo lograse la forma en que lo distribuirá.
Sin embargo, la operación en sí encierra un pulso. Lo expresó este domingo Miguel Pizarro, otro de los parlamentarios cercanos a Guaidó. "El llamado es a los funcionarios civiles y miembros de las FANB  [ Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana ]  a que se pongan del lado de los venezolanos y permitan el ingreso de la ayuda humanitaria que tanto urge a cientos de miles de venezolanos que hoy sufren a causa de la emergencia humanitaria", recalcó al agradecer el esfuerzo de la comunidad internacional.
Este proceso se ha acelerado en los últimos días. Nadie duda de la necesidad de la ayuda humanitaria desde hace meses. La urgencia de la oposición para que llegue en este momento busca, no obstante, aumentar la presión sobre los militares, que son quienes controlan las fronteras del país y de quienes, en definitiva, dependerá que la ayuda entre o no a Venezuela
Las primeras cajas llegadas de Estados Unidos contienen medicamentos, suministros quirúrgicos y suplementos nutricionales. Productos prioritarios destinados a "atender una emergencia sanitaria compleja dirigida a quienes hoy corren riesgo de vida o muerte". “Hay entre 250.000 y 300.000 venezolanos en riesgo de muerte', aseguró el sábado, durante la última movilización masiva de la oposición, el presidente interino. La encuesta sobre condiciones de vida en Venezuela  ( Encovi )  elaborada por Universidad Católica Andrés Bello y otros organismos señala que ya en 2017, cuando la situación económica no era tan grave y la hiperinflación estaba algo más contenida, casi el 90% de la población vivía por debajo del umbral de la pobreza.
From a podium on Saturday in Caracas shopping and leisure district Las Mercedes, he shares his plans with a crowd wrapped in flags and full of new hope. He will only serve as president until free elections can be held. His support from most of the world's democracies will make the army realise it's time to abandon Maduro  ( only foot soldiers at home and senior military people posted abroad have so far done so ) . A promise of amnesty to those who desert their posts will get the top brass to reconsider, says Guaidó, waving papers containing an amnesty law.
Venezuela may have two presidents, but only one of them, Maduro, has an army. If Guaidó is to have power, his supporters in poorer neighborhoods will have to continue facing down the military.
Everywhere, anger towards Maduro is growing, but so is the brutality of his security forces. Some 850 people were arrested last week andat least 40 have been killed– many in their homes by the new FAES special forces. When ordinary soldiers refuse to kill, Maduro sends in FAES to do the job instead.
We are interrupted by a guard in civilian clothes with a moustache and walkie talkie. I am not allowed to be here, he informs me, demanding to see my passport. I hand him my press credentials. “Passport,' he insists. "Wait here, and I'll get it to you right away," I answer, hurrying around a corner to get away. On Tuesday and Wednesday alone, 11 journalists were imprisoned or deported in Venezuela; only two have been released since. Like many others, I was also detained for hours at the airport when I arrived.
"We've lost our fear," says 30 year old Adriana Rodriguez. On 23 January, she and most of her apartment complex knocked on pots and pans and demanded Maduro's resignation. The army and police had withdrawn from several of their posts in the neighbourhood and left the riot control to the colectivos, who stood on the rooftop of the 12 storey concrete building and aimed their guns at anyone who ventured into the yard.
A senior Canadian official says the country will announce new humanitarian assistance for countries most affected by the Venezuelan refugee crisis.
Sunday saw the expiry of an ultimatum set by European countries including France, the UK, Germany and Spain for Mr Maduro to call early presidential elections. They said that they would recognise Mr Guaidó as interim president if no such pledge was forthcoming.
Guaidó anuncia dos manifestaciones "masivas" esta semana:el miércoles y el sábado. "Les pedimos a todos los venezolanos que salgan a las calles". El presidente de la Asamblea llama, también, a la movilización fuera de Venezuela, en otras capitales extranjeras e insiste en la amnistía para los militares que se unan a su causa. "Hemos avanzado a pasos agigantados", añade. "Nos vemos de nuevo en las calles".
Denunció que las autoridades han realizado allanamientos en “casas de familias pobres, sin ningún tipo de orden judicial', para hacer arrestos, según el diairo venezolano El Universal.
Las protestas antigubernamentales que se han suscitado en Venezuela en la última semana han dejadoun saldo de 35 muertes y 850 detenidos,según un balance presentado hoy por varias organizaciones no gubernamentales, informa Efe. "Tenemos la cifra corroborada, con nombre, apellido, sitio y presuntos responsables de35 personas asesinadas en el contexto de manifestacionesen todo el país", ha dicho en rueda de prensa el director del Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos  ( Provea ) .
Tras desconocer porilegítimaslas elecciones de 2018 en las que no participaron los principales partidos de la oposición y declarar "usurpador" a Nicolás Maduro tras su reasunción el 10 de enero pasado, el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela,Juan Guaidó,se proclamó este miércoles presidente interino del país, encargado de las funciones ejecutivas hasta tanto se realicenelecciones democráticas y transparentes.
El país andino vive uno de sus momentos más tensos: la producción de petróleo está cayendo, la economía se desploma en picada, proliferan enfermedades como la malaria y escasean los víveres y medicamentos más básicos.
La "situación humanitaria exige acción ahora", expresó Pompeo. Agregó que nueve de cada 10 ciudadanos venezolanos viven en la pobreza y que tres millones se han visto obligados a salir de su país para forjarse un mejor futuro. Esta situación ha puesto en riesgo la paz internacional y seguridad, añadió.
El líder opositor venezolano y presidente de la Asamblea Nacional ha instado a sus seguidores a realizar otra protesta masiva la próxima semana, mientras que Maduro insistió en su llamado al diálogo. Ambos se mostraron dispuestos a defender su reclamo a la presidencia a cualquier precio y Guaidó dijo a sus partidarios que si era arrestado, ellos debían mantener el rumbo y protestar pacíficamente. Además manifestó que está "dispuesto a hablar con todos aquellos funcionarios civiles y militares" del gobierno, pero que no se prestará para "falsos diálogos y mucho menos vamos a ir a elecciones que no tengan las condiciones reales".
Según informes de fuentes locales fidedignas, al menos 20 personas habrían muerto como consecuencia de disparos con armas de fuego por parte de miembros de las fuerzas de seguridad y de grupos armados pro gubernamentales durante las manifestaciones del martes y miércoles. Muchas otras personas han sido heridas por disparos de balas, perdigones y proyectiles de goma.
570 Promedio de personas migrantes albergadas en las ERM durante el mes 18 Promedio de personas migrantes identificadas con condiciones de vulnerabilidad 51%Se concentraron en la ERM de Bajo Chiquito, lo que demuestra un incremento en el flujo migratorio de ingreso a Panamá 62% Son de nacionalidad Haitiana 85% Mujeres y hombres mayores de 18 años 15% Niños, niñas y adolescentes menores de 18 años
PROTECCIÓN
En el sitio, las personas migrantes tienen acceso a protección y la provisión de seguridad ciudadana a través de la Policía Nacional. Por otra parte, se ha identificado la falta de implementación de
protocolos de asistencia según perfiles diferenciados.
En la comunidad de Bajo Chiquito está la primera estación migratoria que recibe a las personas
migrantes una vez que terminan su ruta por la selva del Darién.
Al momento, contamos con 2,526 migrantes varados en el territorio nacional, distribuidos de la siguiente manera: en las estaciones de la provincia de Darién hay 1,674 migrantes en ERM La Peñita, 124 en ERM de Bajo Chiquito y 187 en ERM de Lajas Blancas. En la provincia de Chiriquí, en el ERM de Los Planes, actualmente hay 541 migrantes. El cierre de fronteras áreas continúa postergado hasta el 22 de junio.
Los insumos más necesarios en el sitio son: sets de cocina, mosquiteros, mantas, camas o colchonetas, catres y jabón.
< 25 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas migrantes se albergan en lonas provistas.
<75 por ciento de los refugios son de materiales resistentes a las condiciones del ambiente.
< 13 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes tienen acceso a áreas
privadas de vivienda.
En cuanto al contexto local en la frontera entre Colombia y Panamá, en el mes de abril se observa una disminución del flujo migratorio, probablemente debido a las condiciones climáticas ya que, al comenzar la época de lluvias el camino a través de la selva presenta mayores desafíos. Esto coincidió con movimientos casi diarios de los migrantes en la comunidad de Bajo Chiquito hacia las ERM de San Vicente y Lajas Blancas, y de estas ERM en Darién a la ERM de Los Planes de Gualaca. Es importante destacar que cambiaron los medios de movilización ya que, debido a las lluvias, los caminos terrestres se encuentran cerrados y el traslado hacia la comunidad de Bajo Chiquito debe ser por vía fluvial, en botes pequeños. Esto ha dificultado también la llegada de insumos y elementos no alimentarios a la comunidad.
Ninguna de las familias o grupos de personas migrantes tiene acceso a instalaciones seguras para cocinar.
< 25 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes tiene acceso a mosquiteros.
Agua no potable: La fuente principal es un río cercano. Agua potable: La fuente principal es el sistema de
acueducto local y el agua embotellada. 10 tomas de agua se encuentran en funcionamiento.
SALUD En el sitio se requiere del apoyo para la asistencia permanente en servicios de salud y la dotación de medicamentos.
No se cuenta con espacios seguros y recreacionales para niñas y niños.
No existe iluminación adecuada en espacios comunes del sitio de alejamiento.
COMUNICACIÓN Y NECESIDADES DE INFORMACIÓN En el sitio, las autoridades gubernamentales y los gestores del sitio son las personas encargadas de brindar información a las personas migrantes. Las autoridades realizan charlas y diálogos con las personas migrantes por medios de grupos focales cuando es necesario brindar alguna comunicación importante, además brindan material informativo para información complementaria por medio de carteles y murales.
Las personas migrantes usualmente solicitan información sobre acceso a servicios, distribución
de alimentos, protección internacional, distribución de ropa, contexto migratorio, acceso a
servicios de salud y regularización migratoria.
ALBERGUE Y ARTÍCULOS NO ALIMENTARIOS Dos familias,en promedio, ocupan una carpa o tarpautil.
Todas las familias o grupos de personas migrantes se albergan bajo techo.
AGUA Y SANEAMIENTO La fuente principal de agua se encuentra en el sitio, a < 150 metros caminando de ida, y cuenta con un sistema mejorado de cañerías y tanques.
Existe disponibilidad  
de ventas de comidas en las cercanías
del sitio de alojamiento.
SNM y la Cruz Roja dan seguimiento para casos de mal
nutrición en el sitio.
Se requiere apoyo para brindar alimentación diferenciada para mujeres embarazadas, madres lactantes, niños y niñas. Así como seguimiento a los casos de malnutrición
SALUD
En la ERM se requiere del apoyo para la asistencia permanente en servicios de salud y la
dotación de medicamentos.
PROTECCIÓN En el sitio, las personas migrantes tienen acceso a protección y la provisión de seguridad ciudadana a través de la SENAFRONT.
Los insumos más necesarios en el sitio son: camas o colchonetas, mosquiteros, mantas, sets de
cocina y jabón.
< 88 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes se albergan bajo techo.
> 50 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes viven en carpas, trapautiles;
donde > 50 por ciento viven en refugios
improvisados.
< 75 por ciento de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes tienen acceso a electricidad.
Ninguna de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes tienen acceso a áreas
privadas de vivienda.
Las personas migrantes usualmente consideran a sus familiares como las fuentes de información
confiable en los temas relacionados con la movilidad y el traslado de la ERM.
ESTADÍSTICAS DE LA POBLACIÓN MIGRANTE ALBERGADA EN LA ERM DE LOS PLANES En promedio, se contabilizaron 520 personas albergadas durante el periodo de estudio. En la primera semana del mes de abril, se registró a 417 personas migrantes albergadas, mientras que, para la última semana se registró a 646 personas migrantes en el sitio de alojamiento. Esta tendencia demuestra un comportamiento hacia el rápido incremento sobre la cantidad de personas que se alojan en el albergue
La ERM de Los Planes se ubica en el municipio David, de la provincia Chiriquí; especificamente en la comunidad de Los Planes Gualaca. Su apertura se dio en el mes de octubre del año 2016 y no se tiene una fecha aproximada para su cierre. El terreno en el que se encuentra la ERM es propiedad del Gobierno de Panamá. Actualmente la ERM se encuentra gestionada por el Servicio Nacional de Migración Regional de Chiriquí.
Cuatro familias, en promedio, comparten una cabaña o vivienda para refugiados
Ninguna de las familias o grupos de personas
migrantes viven a la intemperie  ( sin
refugio )
En el sitio, las personas migrantes tienen acceso a alimentos preparados diariamente en horarios de comida establecidos y la principal fuente para la obtención de comida es por medio de la asistencia gubernamental.
Brazil is the most affected country in the region with
28,320 confirmed cases and 1,736 deaths, followed by
Peru with 11,475 cases and 254 deaths, Chile with
8,807 confirmed cases and 105 deaths, and Ecuador
with 8,225 confirmed cases and 402 deaths.