Concern as Venezuela Refuses to Accept Aid

Shortages of food and medicine have left Peru calling for a bloc of countries to pressure Mr. Maduro to accept humanitarian donations, something that he declines to do. Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, has threatened to expel Venezuela over human rights violations and not complying with its trade laws. And even the State Department, after Mr. Kerry’s meeting with Mr. Maduro, issued a statement indicating that the men’s encounter in Cartagena was not a photo op but rather Mr. Kerry’s chance to express “our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans.” More…