IRIN: As Venezuela crisis spirals, needs across the Colombian border grow
“…According to aid groups and local people [in Colombia], last week saw an upsurge in arrivals as the situation in Venezuela spiraled further out of control, amid mass street protests calling for President Nicolás Maduro to step aside. Since last week, more than 30 countries have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, including the United States, Canada, several E.U. countries, and Colombia, while 15 others — including China and Russia — continue to support Maduro. Eleven regional countries have also issued a statement urging the Venezuelan military to back Guaidó and calling for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid…” (Grattan, 2/5).

NPR: Collapse Of Health System Sends Venezuelans Fleeing To Brazil For Basic Meds
“Venezuela’s once impressive medical system has crumbled dramatically. But it’s hard to know exactly how bad things are — because the Ministry of Health stopped releasing national health data. … Statistics that have come out show that all the basic parameters of health in Venezuela have been moving ominously in the wrong direction for the past decade. Rates of malnutrition and HIV are rising; there are new outbreaks of preventable diseases like diphtheria. Infant mortality … is on the rise…” (Beaubien, 2/5).

Wall Street Journal: Venezuelan Opposition Plans to Import Aid, in a Slap at Maduro
“…Venezuelan exiles working with Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader the U.S. and other countries recognize as the nation’s interim president, on Tuesday had started shipping nutritional biscuits for malnourished children by truck to Cúcuta from Colombia’s capital Bogotá, a 12-hour journey on mountain highways. The tactic is designed to put the Venezuelan government on the spot in front of the international media. Venezuelan security forces will either turn back the aid, which is needed by impoverished residents, or permit it to come in against Mr. Maduro’s wishes…” (Pérez et al., 2/5).