US Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he will next week address a meeting of the UN Security Council on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
The council will meet Wednesday at Washington's request amid growing alarm over the impact of a political standoff in Venezuela on families and children.
Pence said the United States will urge world powers to reject President Nicolas Maduro and address the crisis from Venezuela's economic meltdown.
"Next Wednesday, I will address the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Venezuela," Pence said in a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
"The United States will urge the world to reject Maduro's failed regime, to stand with the Venezuelan people, and to help us bring the humanitarian crisis to an end."
An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care.
Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim leader, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault.
Guaido is recognized by the United States and about 50 other governments.
Pence on Friday announced sanctions on 34 vessels of Venezuela's state oil company and renewed the US threat of military action.
"Those looking on should know this: All options are on the table. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America," Pence said.
The United States in February asked the council to adopt a resolution demanding new presidential elections and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid, but that measure was vetoed by Russia and China.
Russia has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Venezuela while China has stressed that there should be no international meddling in the South American country's affairs.
Human Rights Watch and a group of US public health experts released a report Thursday detailing severe medicine and food shortages in Venezuela combined with the spread of disease resulting in a "complex humanitarian emergency."
They called for a full-scale response from the United Nations to address the crisis.
The Red Cross last week said it would begin distributing aid to Venezuela.
US Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he will next week address a meeting of the UN Security Council on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
The council will meet Wednesday at Washington’s request amid growing alarm over the impact of a political standoff in Venezuela on families and children.
Pence said the United States will urge world powers to reject President Nicolas Maduro and address the crisis from Venezuela’s economic meltdown.
“Next Wednesday, I will address the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Venezuela,” Pence said in a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
“The United States will urge the world to reject Maduro’s failed regime, to stand with the Venezuelan people, and to help us bring the humanitarian crisis to an end.”
An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people — about 24 percent of Venezuela’s population — are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care.
Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela’s economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim leader, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault.
Guaido is recognized by the United States and about 50 other governments.
Pence on Friday announced sanctions on 34 vessels of Venezuela’s state oil company and renewed the US threat of military action.
“Those looking on should know this: All options are on the table. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America,” Pence said.
The United States in February asked the council to adopt a resolution demanding new presidential elections and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid, but that measure was vetoed by Russia and China.
Russia has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Venezuela while China has stressed that there should be no international meddling in the South American country’s affairs.
Human Rights Watch and a group of US public health experts released a report Thursday detailing severe medicine and food shortages in Venezuela combined with the spread of disease resulting in a “complex humanitarian emergency.”
They called for a full-scale response from the United Nations to address the crisis.
The Red Cross last week said it would begin distributing aid to Venezuela.
