BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) stipulates that humanitarian aid ought to focus on fixing international problems of economic, social or humanitarian character. Yet the politicization of U.S.-led aid in Venezuela clearly goes against this principle.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Colombia has recently refused to participate in Washington's humanitarian aid plan, and questioned the nature of the relief.
"We are in a situation in which unfortunately the first victim of what is happening is the word 'humanitarian,' because there is a debate, there is a public controversy, there is a manipulation of all parts on this term," Christoph Harnisch, head of the ICRC in Colombia, said.
The first victim is certainly not the only casualty. Instead of saving lives, the aid standoff has turned deadly over the weekend. As a result, at least four people were killed and some 300 people were wounded in violent clashes at Venezuela's border crossings with Colombia and Brazil.
In Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered to close the borders with Brazil, cut off his country's diplomatic ties with Colombia, and called the U.S.-led aid plan a part of a coup attempt. Meanwhile, Venezuela has agreed to accept humanitarian aid from the European Union via the UN system.
Amid years of economic stagnation, Venezuela truly needs help from the international community.
However, for humanitarian aid to be legitimate and effective, those who offer the assistance need to respect the sovereign rights of the receiving countries, and highlight the fundamental principles of political independence, which distinguishes humanitarian aid from activities of a political or military nature.
Also, these aid efforts should not be manipulated as a pretext for any kind of external intervention in Venezuela's domestic affairs, not to mention military interference.
Under the current circumstances, interventionist aid programs will only further complicate Venezuela's domestic situation, and fuel the suffering of its people. History does not lack of such regrettable examples.
To solve Venezuela's ongoing crisis, all of the country's parties need to come together and figure out their differences through dialogue and within the existing constitution and legal framework.
As for the international community, its proper role in helping solve the crisis should be limited and constructive. It should respect the right of the Venezuelan people to sort out their own matters through talks and other political means. Only then can Venezuelans realize enduring stability for their country.
