Venezuela is banning sea trips to and from three Dutch Caribbean islands - a region linked to efforts to undermine embattled President Nicolas Maduro by sending emergency aid to the South American nation.
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The indefinite shutdown of the "maritime border" applies to commercial and fishing boats between Venezuela and the islands of Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire, Falcon state Civil Protection Director Gregorio Jose Montano said.
It comes as opposition leader Juan Guaido has been rallying international support for his challenge to Maduro. Guaido has called for international emergency aid for Venezuela, including from nearby Curacao.
Maduro vows to block the aid, saying it's part of a US-led coup. Dutch officials have said they're opening Curacao as a hub for emergency shipments.
Guaido also says he's organising caravans to try to bring in the emergency food and medicine from the United States and other countries starting on Saturday. It's expected also to come into Venezuela through Brazil and the Colombian border town of Cucuta, where supplies are being warehoused.
A Brazilian presidential spokesman said on Wednesday that Brazil would deliver humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan border by February 23 together with the United States, at Guaido's request.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the aid will be placed in Boa Vista and the border town of Pacaraima to be collected by what it called "the government of acting President Juan Guaido."
Venezuelan troops will remain stationed along the country's borders to prevent territorial violations, the Maduro-aligned defence minister said.
Australian Associated Press