Mr. Guaidó Efforts to Bring Aid To Venezuela Fails Terribly

Mr Guaidó organised the collection of hundreds of tonnes of foreign aid at the country’s borders. He gave the government a deadline of Saturday to allow the aid to be brought into Venezuela or vowed to have volunteers march it in themselves.

In response, President Maduro partly closed the country’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, citing threats to security and sovereignty. On Saturday, Venezuelan civilians attempted to cross in order to get to the aid, which included food and medicine.

A demonstrator hits a barbed wire while clashing with security forces in Urena, Venezuela
Demonstrator gets stuck into barbed wire strung across a street in Ureña

Security forces were firing tear gas at volunteers. Protesters burned outposts and threw projectiles at soldiers and riot police.

Rights groups say at least two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead in Saturday’s clashes in Santa Elena de Uairen, near the country’s border with Brazil. Another two were reported to have been killed on Friday.

Amnesty International has described the use of firearms against protesters as a serious human rights violation and a crime under international law.

There have also been reports of several aid trucks being burned – something Mr Guaidó said was a violation of the Geneva Convention.

At about 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Saturday, Colombia’s government estimated the number injured at border crossings to be about 300. Journalists at the scene reported severe injuries among protesters, including several who appeared to have lost their eyes.

The border turned smoky

Mr Guaidó visited the Tienditas bridge on the Colombian side of the border, where he addressed soldiers abandoning their posts – promising them “amnesty” if they joined the “right side of history”.

At least 60 soldiers had defected by late Saturday, according to Colombia’s migration service. But most of the military still appeared to be loyal to President Maduro.

A demonstrator kneels down in front of security forces in Ureña, Venezuela
Demonstrator kneels before security forces in Ureña

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