Travellers, aid not reaching Venezuela
Caracas: Travel websites like Expedia and Orbitz have quietly stopped selling airline tickets for Venezuela amid recent political turmoil, further isolating the socialist-run country.
On Thursday, it was impossible to find on the popular websites any Venezuelan cities in the drop-down list of booking options for hotels and flights to the South American country.
The Expedia Group said the company was acting on behalf of travellers' wellbeing and in accordance with recent travel advice by foreign governments about crime and civil unrest.
"Once governmental advice reaches a certain level of travel concern, we take action to close off destinations on our sites," spokeswoman Sarah Gavin said.
Orbitz didn't respond to a request for comment.
It comes as the Venezuelan government set up road blocks to stop aid entering the country via the Colombian border, prompting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to use to Twitter to shout in capital letters "The Maduro regime must let the aid reach the starving people". His post included photos of the road blocked by trucks and shipping containers.
The aid, however, left the American territory of Puerto Rico en route for Venezuela regardless.
Puerto Rico's government said 1633 kilograms of donated supplies were on their way on Friday morning Australian time as part of a humanitarian aid mission.
Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin said a plane carrying the supplies left on Wednesday but has not yet delivered them. It was unclear where the plane and supplies were. Trucks carrying aid reportedly arrived on the border on Thursday.
"[It's] an extremely complex route that is being protected to ensure the safety of those transporting the supplies as well as those receiving them," he said.
Officials have said the humanitarian aid was not part of the $US20 million ($28 million) in aid pledged by the United States.
Venezuelan community leader Sonia Cosme said supplies included medication to help treat diabetes, blood pressure, asthma and seizures, as well as items for children including diapers, formula, milk, oral serums and protein drinks.
AP
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