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This (re: depoliticizing the VEN aid effort) is a fair question. The basic answer is that you need to think of aid politicization as a sliding scale rather than a binary.
Maduro is far from unique in denying that his government is causing a crisis. MOST regimes say the same. 1/
Maduro is far from unique in denying that his government is causing a crisis. MOST regimes say the same. 1/
Humanitarians are used to that. And we are used to operating in countries whose leaders don't necessarily want us there. The art of humanitarian negotiation is in opening up space for a response regardless. See Syria, N. Nigeria, basically all of Sudan, etc etc etc. Not new. 2/
The notions of humanitarian independence and neutrality are important FOR PRECISELY THIS REASON. Politicians will always be inclined to see aid as a lever in their power struggle. Neutrality/independence are central to persuading them to tolerate it anyway. 3/
And this is why the stunts on the border last weekend are so, so damaging. Because they make that painstaking process of negotiating that access enormously more difficult. 4/
What's a tougher dilemma for Maduro: turning down aid from a neutral aid agency, or turning down aid flown in on US military jets accompanied by a US politician who is vocally advocating Maduro's overthrow? The question answers itself. 5/
Might he block aid regardless? It's possible. But putting a USG face on the operation and tying it to Guaido virtually ensures that outcome. Using a more traditional UN and Red Cross-centered neutral/independent approach gives much better odds of success. 6/
There are traditional aid providers already in the country, working with local partners and doing their best to scale up. The sideshow on the border delivers far less they can, and makes it much harder for them to expand operations. 7/
Long humanitarian experience suggests best prospect for success - and the approach that would be the most difficult for Maduro to reject - is a UN & Red Cross-led operation; explicitly distinct from other political agendas; and focused on clearly defined needs. /END
