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Venezuela Crisis: Hope and Aid Blocked at Border

As President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela seeks to stay in power, we traveled to Cúcuta, Colombia, the site of a star-studded concert organized by Richard Branson and attempts by opposition forces to push humanitarian aid across the border.

Venezuelan protesters throw rocks at forces loyal to President Nicolás Maduro. We’re on the Colombian side of the border with Venezuela. We came here to see if the fight to push across U.S. aid will break Maduro’s hold on power. But so far, the confrontation has led to this: tear gas, hundreds of injuries, and the trucks with the aid eventually turning back. It was a very different scene along the border the day before. This bridge has been barricaded by Maduro to keep our donated food and medical supplies, which he sees as a ploy to undermine his government. [music] On this day, the bridge turned into the stage for a star-studded concert [singing] energizing Venezuelans with pop music and rallying support for the opposition. [cheering] At times, it felt removed from the reality inside Venezuela and we wondered if a show like this could really play any part in bringing political change. We spoke with billionaire Richard Branson, one of the event’s organizers. We film from up here. We’re both in sweaty t-shirts. “We’re going to have a wonderful concert today. Hopefully, it’ll be a dawn of a new era.” Do you believe that? Do you believe that it can be — that can be achieved? “I’m really hopeful. I think anybody who’s in a position to help should help.” Is this just a media spectacle? “Go and talk to the people in the audience, who are predominantly Venezuelans, and you’ll realize that it’s anything but that.” [music] [music] “Imagine there’s no country. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for — “ It’s the day that the opposition will try to force the aid across the border. And we’re back where the concert ended hours before. [truck horn honking] Juan Guaidó, the leader of the opposition, arrives. He’s been recognized as Venezuela’s president by more than 50 countries, including the United States. Everyone on the bridge is watching to see what will happen when Guaidó tries to lead the trucks carrying across the aid. But the border is sealed. On the other side, the Venezuelan armed forces, essential to Maduro’s power, do not budge. And Guaidó’s hope that they would step aside to let the aid through is dashed. Guaidó and the trucks never make it onto the bridge, nor do these Venezuelans. Colombian police keep them back to prevent clashes. But on other bridges, violence does break out. We tag along with Omar Lares, a former mayor living in exile for opposing Maduro’s government. We see one of the trucks with aid burning after protesters clashed with Venezuelan security forces. At the end of the day, a couple of dozen soldiers had defected. But Maduro survived the challenge. Guaidó is outside his country, and it’s unclear when he’ll be able to return. Now the stage is set for what could become a bloodier conflict, as Venezuela’s presidents dig in their heels. [sirens wailing]

The Dispatch

On-the-Ground Video Dispatches

Venezuela Crisis: Hope and Aid Blocked at Border

By Neil Collier, Orlando De Guzman and Ben Laffin February 25, 2019

As President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela seeks to stay in power, we traveled to Cúcuta, Colombia, the site of a star-studded concert organized by Richard Branson and attempts by opposition forces to push humanitarian aid across the border.

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