The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, General Arturo Garffer, warned that the Puerto Rican medical mission aiming to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by earthquakes in Venezuela faces a complicated scenario due to the lack of approval from the US Department of State and authorization from the Venezuelan regime. Garffer acknowledged the service vocation of Puerto Rican doctors but stated that the situation transcends the humanitarian aspect and enters a complex diplomatic and political terrain.
The Venezuelan government has rejected the need for international medical assistance since the beginning of the emergency, communicating this to the US federal government. Garffer explained that the only US medical missions that have entered Venezuela to offer assistance have done so through coordination with the Department of State and in conjunction with the US Southern Command.
Despite recognizing the doctors’ desire to help, Garffer emphasized the complexity of the situation, noting that it goes beyond humanitarian aid.