Uruguay aid flight to Venezuela suspended over 'change of rules'

Uruguay's planned humanitarian aid flight to Venezuela, scheduled for Tuesday, has been suspended following a sudden change in Venezuela's entry regulations. Uruguayan Minister of National Defense Sandra Lazo announced the suspension on Monday, citing a "change of rules" imposed by the Venezuelan government.

Lazo explained that the Hercules KC 130-H aircraft and the Navy ship ROU 04 were prepared for the mission, but the new regulations introduced unexpected costs for incoming shipments. "There is a new change of rules, and this change of rules has to do with costs for those arriving at the airport with certain supplies," Lazo stated during a press conference.

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There is a new change of rules, and this change of rules has to do with costs for those arriving at the airport with certain supplies.

The minister indicated she would meet with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin to discuss the situation and determine the next steps. This development comes after Uruguay had already dispatched significant aid to Venezuela following a devastating double earthquake on June 24. That initial shipment included over 7.5 tons of medical supplies, hygiene products, powdered milk, and rescue equipment.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck northern Venezuela, resulting in at least 4,561 deaths and leaving over 16,700 injured and nearly 18,000 homeless, according to recent reports. The suspension of the flight highlights the logistical and political complexities of delivering aid to disaster-stricken regions.

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I am not arriving in a territory without any problems. I am arriving in a territory that has all the inconveniences after a catastrophe like the one that happened. In that framework, they also change the rules of the game.