The situation in Venezuela is confirming the existence and magnitude of the humanitarian crisis the Maduro regime refuses to recognise. Helped by Machiavelli Vladimir Putin, China and other countries, Nicolás Maduro ordered his people to stay at home. His policies are bringing nothing to the people but darkness... no food, no medicine, no power.

People line up with cans and tanks to collect water, at Petare neighbourhood in Caracas on Monday. Photo: Federico Parra/AFP

With no resolution in sight, shops and businesses are closing down. The President is blaming the rolling nationwide power cuts on US-backed sabotage, describing them as “the worst imperialist attacks on the country in 200 years”. Meanwhile, the Opposition, led by Juan Guaidó, who is trying hard to oust Maduro, said power cuts are due to the incompetence and lack of investment in the country’s dilapidated infrastructure.

The blackouts have compounded the President’s woes after weeks of pressure from Guaidó and his US backers. The US and about 50 other countries have formally recognised Guaidó as the nation’s interim leader but, as we all know, tyrants don’t give up power that easily.