Guaidó announces first aid truck enters Venezuelan border

A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid has passed into Venezuela amid a standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Guaidó announced the border crossing of the first aid truck Saturday morning in a tweet, calling it a “great achievement” for Venezuela.

“Attention Venezuela! We officially announce that the first shipment of humanitarian aid has already entered our border with Brazil. This is a great achievement, Venezuela!” he wrote.

¡Atención Venezuela!

Anunciamos oficialmente que YA ENTRÓ el primer cargamento de ayuda humanitaria por nuestra frontera con Brasil.

¡Esto es un gran logro, Venezuela!

¡Seguimos! #23FAvalanchaHumanitaria

— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 23, 2019

The remaining convoy of trucks was headed to the border of Venezuela as late Saturday morning, according to The Associated Press.

Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president of Venezuela, called on allies of Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chávez on Saturday to join his cause and support his administration over Maduro’s.{mosads}

“This fight is for everyone and for all Venezuelans. I want to make a special call to the people of Chavez and those who were close to join the Constitution, the democratic coexistence and the welfare of all,” he added in a second tweet.

Esta lucha es de todos y por todos los venezolanos. Quiero hacerle un especial llamado al pueblo chavista y a quienes estuvieron cerca a que se sumen al lado de la constitución, de la convivencia democrática y el bienestar para todos. pic.twitter.com/grB6UFfm4T

— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 23, 2019

The announcement comes just a day after a violent clash on Venezuela’s border with Brazil reportedly resulted in the deaths of two indigenous people, according to a local mayor. The clash also resulted in injuries to protesters demonstrating against Maduro’s closure of the border.

Maduro shuttered Venezuela’s borders over Guaidó’s efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country, claiming that the aid trucks are part of an effort led by the U.S. to support a coup against his government. The standoff between Guaidó and Maduro comes as opposition forces work to pressure Maduro to step down from the presidency.

The White House urged Maduro on Friday to allow aid to “peacefully” enter the country.

“Egregious violation of human rights by Maduro and those who are following his orders will not go unpunished. The United States strongly urges the Venezuelan military to uphold its constitutional duty to protect the citizens of Venezuela. The Venezuelan military must allow humanitarian aid to peacefully enter the country. The world is watching,” press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.