Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires William Popp
(as prepared for delivery)
The United States is proud to stand with Brazil and more than 50 countries that have recognized Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó.
We are grateful for the support and leadership of President Bolsonaro, his government and Brazilian institutions in pursuing a peaceful and constitutional return to democracy in Venezuela. As demonstrated today, we are working with Brazil and our other international partners to respond to.
We are committed to working with Interim President Juan Guaidó, the Government of Brazil, and our other international partners to respond to the Maduro regime’s man-made humanitarian crisis and deliver this humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people at Interim President Guaidó’s request.
The U.S. role is completely humanitarian and in coordination with Brazil’s efforts to deliver to the representatives of Interim President Guaidó humanitarian assistance for the Venezuelan people.
As part of this peaceful joint effort, we have contributed 178 metric tons of food that include rice, beans, sugar, salt and coffee, enough to feed 6,000 people for one month.
This assistance is made up of items purchased in Brazil for delivery to Venezuelans suffering from severe food shortages inside Venezuela.
The Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the U.S. Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia partnered with the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Brazilian Agency for Cooperation (ABC), and the Government of the State of Roraima to coordinate the safe pre-positioning of these much needed supplies.
This humanitarian assistance must be allowed to enter Venezuela to reach Venezuelans in need. We condemn the killing of civilians by the Venezuelan National Guard not far from the Brazil border.
We call on the Venezuelan security forces to allow these urgently needed supplies to enter the country. The world is watching.
Over the last two years, the United States has committed more than US $140 million in crisis response assistance in the region, including more than US $10 million to support the Government of Brazil’s emergency response in the border state of Roraima.
Our assistance to the Venezuelan people will not stop today nor with this shipment.
Building on today’s efforts, the United States will continue to partner with Brazil to support the people of Venezuela during this humanitarian crisis, caused by the Maduro regime.
Together, we will continue to support the Venezuelan people toward a peaceful transition to democracy.
Antes de terminar, quiero decir al pueblo venezuelano, esta assistencia hoy es una parte de nuestro compromiso e apoyo a su lucha por la libertad.
¡Estamos com ustedes!
