AID: Spain set to send at least €2 million to Venezuela to tackle crisis effects

SPAIN has said it will send aid worth at least €2 million to Venezuela to deal with the effects of a crisis that has brought it close to collapse.

The Spanish Agency for International Co-operation and Development (AECID) said the aid would be spent mainly on food and medical supplies. The agency added the total amount of aid sent since 2017 would stand at around €6 million by the end of this year.

“The principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence need to be respected in Venezuela,” AECID said.

#España, a través de la Oficina de Acción Humanitaria de la AECID, destinará un mínimo de 2 millones de euros en ayuda humanitaria a la situación regional de #Venezuela 🇻🇪 en 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ https://t.co/m5h7kJe3kp#SomosCooperación pic.twitter.com/HMKI3gNi8h

— AECID (@AECID_es) February 15, 2019

It comes after years of political and economic turmoil in the Latin American country which culminated in opposition and National Assembly leader Juan Guaido declaring himself interim president. He was later backed by Spain, the US and other countries.

That move set him against sitting President Nicolas Maduro. The successor to revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez has tightened his grip on power since taking office in 2013 with police crackdowns on protests and the arrest of opposition figures.

Maduro claims that Guaido’s actions are part of efforts from the US and others to launch a coup in the country.

His opponents claim Maduro is increasingly becoming a dictator, citing the results of an election last year which they argue was rigged.

At least three million people have fled the country since 2015 in one of the largest mass migrations in the continent’s history. The country has faced falling oil prices and increased sanctions which have weakened its already fragile economy.