Thread by @ASCOA

Few countries are as ill-equipped to handle COVID-19 as Venezuela is.

At 11 am ET, we're talking with Congresswoman @manuelabolivar, @dsmolansky of the OAS, @juliocastrom of the Guaidó admin, and Carrie Filipetti of @StateDept.

Join us #HealthcareASCOA: bit.ly/39g8j2f

@manuelabolivar @dsmolansky @juliocastrom @StateDept "What does it mean to fight a pandemic while under a narco-state? That's what Venezuela is facing."

— @dsmolansky, referring to just-announced US DOJ indictments against Nicolás Maduro

#HealthcareASCOA

@manuelabolivar @dsmolansky @juliocastrom @StateDept VZ Deputy @manuelabolivar:

80% of Venezuelans don't have access to clean water

90% don't have regular electricity service

1 in 3 Venezuelans already aren't eating daily. Many face the choice of staying home and starving or going out and getting COVID-19.

#HealthcareASCOA

@manuelabolivar @dsmolansky @juliocastrom @StateDept Carrie Filipetti, deputy AS for Cuba and Venezuela @StateDept, highlights that there already have been "carve-outs" in place so that U.S. sanctions against Venezuela don't restrict humanitarian and aid efforts.

#HealthcareASCOA

@manuelabolivar @dsmolansky @juliocastrom @StateDept Q: Would the USG and @StateDept consider working with Maduro amid this crisis?

A, Carrie Filipetti: Right now we're seeing Maduro politicize the crisis. We would first need to make sure that the aid could be disbursed in an apolitical manner.

#HealthcareASCOA

@manuelabolivar @dsmolansky @juliocastrom @StateDept And that wraps up our #HealthcareASCOA panel on COVID-19 and Venezuela.

Many thanks to speakers @manuelabolivar, @dsmolansky, @juliocastrom, and Carrie Filipetti, and to everyone who joined in the virtual discussion from around the hemisphere.