Red Cross Notes Unauthorized Use Of Its Emblems Amid Aid Delivery Crisis Around Venezuela

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2019) The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has urged people involved in humanitarian aid deliveries to Venezuela on the borders with Colombia and Brazil, not affiliated with the organization, to refrain from wearing its emblems and thereby jeopardizing its neutrality.

"We've learned that there are some people not affiliated w/ @cruzrojacol [Red Cross in Colombia] & @CruzRojaVe [Red Cross in Venezuela] wearing Red Cross emblems at Colombia-#Venezuela & Brazil-Ven border. We urge them to stop doing this," the federation wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

According to the organization, such people "might mean well but they risk jeopardizing our neutrality, impartiality & independence.

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The Venezuelan opposition earlier announced that the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country would begin on Saturday. The country's president Nicolas Maduro said that he completely closed the land border with Brazil, home to one of hubs for humanitarian aid, and is considering the possibility of closing the border with Colombia, saying the aid deliveries are a ploy to topple his government.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez previously recalled that under international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid is provided in the event of natural disasters, armed conflicts and war. According to Rodriguez, claims about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country are designed to justify the invasion of Venezuela, but the people will not allow this.