Palestine sends surgical team to aid struggling Venezuelans
The Palestinian Authority has dispatched a medical delegation to Venezuela to offer medical aid for one month, in a step it says is strictly humanitarian and not political.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Despite a massive blackout that has plunged most of embattled Venezuela into darkness, a Palestinian delegation of doctors continued its efforts this week to provide aid in the capital of Caracas.
Sent by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a team of 16 doctors arrived Feb. 28 on a monthlong mission to perform free surgeries there, where a struggle for the presidency has thrown the country into chaos. The blackout struck March 7 and continued today, worsening the situation.
Venezuela has been embroiled in growing tension since Jan. 23, when opposition chief Juan Guaido declared himself acting president until new elections are held. Current President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Jan. 10 for a second six-year term.
Maduro's government is reportedly blaming opposition extremists for the blackout, claiming they launched a technological and cyberattack on a hydroelectric plant. The opposition denies the accusations and claims poor maintenance and simple neglect led to the outage.
