The chairman of the Civil Association Acción Solidaria (Acsol), Feliciano Reyna, indicated that projections for Venezuela by the WFP point to 90% of the population at risk of not being able to have access to adequate nutrition. He stressed that it only takes political will on the part of Nicolás Maduro for the program to operate in the country

The economic paralysis and the obstacles to import basic food products put Venezuela at risk, making it a focal country for the World Food Program (WFP), which awaits a simple order from the government of Nicolás Maduro to start operating in the national territory.

The political conflict, with two parties that do not recognize each other and seek to impose themselves on the other, is leading the country to a borderline scenario that aggravates with the serious effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the national economy, and urgently calls for political actors to put aside their differences and advance policies to guarantee access to food.

This is the belief of the chairman of the Civil Association Acción Solidaria (Acsol), Feliciano Reyna, who warns that the government of Nicolás Maduro has focused more on imposing a radical quarantine than properly meeting the population’s need of protection against the pandemic.

In an interview with TalCual, Reyna said that “the majority of the Venezuelan population is in a vulnerable situation and needs urgent agreements and responses,” and explained that the WFP can support small and medium-sized farmers, work in cooperation with government agencies and the private sector, provide logistical support, and alleviate the fuel shortage.

The lockdown has not been well managed

Through Acsol, Feliciano Reyna has carried out the commendable job of supplying medicines to HIV patients. He considers that the country has not taken adequate measures to deal with the coronavirus.

“It has been an odd quarantine, to say the least,” he said. Despite the repression witnessed in some places, one sees that people have been able to be outside their homes, in public spaces, to get food and other basic products, “.

In his opinion, the presence of people on the streets has been well disorderly managed, in the sense that the people living in very precarious conditions should have the support of the authorities, who should provide them face masks and other equipment to prevent contagion and organize the public space so that people can follow social distancing keep distances and avoid the spread of the disease, in addition to providing pertinent information about the virus and the consequences of contagion.

“It is very serious,” he points out, “we have seen entirely reasonable protests that have been met with repression from the authorities, who severely punish the people, arresting and harassing them”.

Most cannot comply with a strict quarantine

Feliciano Reyna considers that the attempt to silence critical voices has been evident, be it from medical workers or journalists who share information on the pandemic different from the official version, or people returning from abroad.

“They are trying to silence the people instead of listening to them, providing shelters, coordinating efforts, and working as a team. For me, although there is a quarantine, it is not being followed and the majority of the population cannot stay at home. ”

He warned that, as we see an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19, it is important that the necessary supports can be implemented to take adequate preventive measures.

Easing the lockdown requires support

-Nicolás Maduro announced that the quarantine was going to be relaxed as of June 2, but Unesco, Unicef ​​, and the World Food Program jointly gave a series of recommendations on this matter. Can Venezuela comply with these guidelines?

There is already a relaxation in force. Except for some restrictions to mobilization, it is not true to say that a strict quarantine or social distancing has been maintained, that is not true. Gradually, some businesses have begun opening. If the fuel stocks allow it, we will be opening other areas of the economy. If this occurs, it is necessary to take into account measures to protect the people, not coercive or repressive ones, but rather measures to help them protect their health and provide them with, for example, adequate masks because many people reuse them or wear ones that are not indicated. I agree with all the flexibility that can be provided as long as the people are given the support to protect their lives.

Reyna stressed that building confidence among the population is important as is non-repressive treatment, so he affirms that the reports from medical workers and journalists who are in direct contact with the people are conducive to the proper management of the situation.

“The situation forces us to take measures, but it must be done while protecting the people, their health, the production of their food and the things they need, and not the opposite, through repression,” said Feliciano Reyna.

Food insecurity

-The World Food Program says that one in three Venezuelans is facing food stress.

The situation is even worse. This information comes from a study, an analysis, where they spoke of 9.6 million people facing food insecurity, accounting for 32% of the population; but the document revealed another very important fact: An additional 17 million people, which adds up to almost 90%, of the population, are also at risk and living under conditions of basic survival regarding access to food.

He argued that, due to the effects of the quarantine in other countries, remittances to many Venezuelan families came to a standstill. “55 to 60% of the migrants were working in the informal sector and many of them were left unable to mobilize for work, be it to sell fruits and vegetables on the streets or work as merchants, making their families fall into a very precarious situation ”.

“That is why we advocate for allowing the World Food Program (WFP) into the country. If you activate food production and distribution to the last corner of the country and people have financial aid, they can buy food and take protective measures. This way, you begin to shape a humanitarian program that is imperative at this very difficult time for the country. ”

Political will

-What does the arrival of the program signify? Do you have any projection?

I could not tell, it is part of the plan that they will develop. They can do it very quickly, with a focus on food and mobility, and also in coordination with 11 national agencies that have spoken of joining efforts and supporting the region. In countries like Spain and Italy, the impact of the coronavirus has been harsh on many sectors of the economy, so if you want to prevent the spread, you have to help people in those sectors. It is not possible to ask for strict confinement from those who live on a daily income. It’s not possible.

-What does it take to activate it?

Just the will to do it. The Maduro government can sign and authorize its entry. I know there have been talks with the technical teams, but there is still a long way to go. There is a legal process to be followed, even though it can speed up in the case of emergencies like an earthquake or a hurricane. Our precarious situation demands immediate action, which can be initiated by the government through an executive order. Under the current political conflict, if Juan Guaidó and the AN enjoy international recognition, they have the power and the mandate to allocate resources or mediate with the World Food Program to accelerate the implementation of the program.

-An agreement between the government and the opposition seems increasingly unlikely. What are the consequences of not reaching an understanding?

Reaching no agreement in favor of the people will translate into more loss of life and more suffering. We are not talking about meeting, taking a picture and recognizing each other, we are talking about taking steps to recognize the mandate and responsibilities of each one and how each one can facilitate initiatives in favor of the people. The embarrassing ruling by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice that recognizes the National Assembly board of directors headed by Parra perpetuates the political standoff and is detrimental to the possibilities of an agreement in favor of the people; political negotiation may come later.