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Are US sanctions reducing access to medicine in Venezuela?

Thursday, February 11, 2021
By Stevie Rosignol-Cortez
YES

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, U.S. economic sanctions on Venezuela are “limiting the government’s ability to import food and medicine.”

Since 2017, the U.S. has imposed various broad economic sanctions on Venezuela in response to the corruption and human rights abuses of Nicolás Maduro's government. The sanctions have reduced the government‘s ability to generate revenue from oil, thus decreasing essential imports of medicine, food and medical equipment. According to the National Survey on Living Conditions, about 1% of Venezuela's population, or 300,000 people, are estimated to be at risk of dying because of lack of access to medicine or treatment.

Sanctions exacerbated the shortages of essentials that began at the start of the humanitarian crisis in 2013. Debates continue regarding the true impact of sanctions on humanitarian conditions.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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