Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Showing posts with label colombia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label colombia. Show all posts

Sunday, March 15, 2020

ANALYSIS: As Latin America takes steps to counter coronavirus, Brazil's Bolsonaro snubs warnings


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People cover their faces while leaving Hospital Cosme Argerich, after the first fatality from coronavirus in Latin America was confirmed, in Buenos Aires, Argentina March 7, 2020.
People cover their faces while leaving Hospital Cosme Argerich, after the first fatality from coronavirus in Latin America was confirmed, in Buenos Aires, Argentina March 7, 2020. © REUTERS/ Mariana Greif
by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, France24 News Analysts, Lima, Peru
Guatemala logged its first fatality from coronavirus on Sunday as nations in South and Central America ramped up measures to contain the infection, with Panama banning entry of non-resident foreigners and Honduras closing its borders to passenger traffic for a week.
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The leaders of Argentina and Peru also announced border closures on Sunday to curb coronavirus. Argentina will close its borders for 15 days to non-residents, President Alberto Fernandez said in a televised press conference.
Public and private school classes would also be suspended until March 31, Fernandez said. National parks would be closed.
Argentina tightens travel restrictions
A day earlier, Argentina published a decree establishing a 30-day ban on entry to non-residents who have traveled to a country highly affected by coronavirus in the last 14 days.
The country has also temporarily stopped issuing visas to travellers from the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Britain and many European countries.
Peru suspends air and sea transport
Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said later on Sunday that Peru would also close its borders, suspending air and sea transport. He called on citizens to self-quarantine for 15 days to help slow the infection.
In Guatemala, Health Minister Hugo Monroy told a news conference the dead man was a 85-year-old who had recently returned from Madrid without showing signs of illness.
Doctors confirmed he had the virus early on Sunday, Monroy added. He later died in a private hospital.
Venezuela imposes "collective quarantine"
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday ordered a "collective quarantine" in seven states, including the capital Caracas to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic
Food distribution, health services, transport and security are exempted, Maduro said in a television address to his crisis-devastated nation where the economy had already collapsed long before the pandemic struck.
"The only way to contain the channels of transmission is to enter in a... drastic phase of collective quarantine throughout the country," said Maduro, adding the measures "deserves great social discipline, great self-control" and people should stay at home.
Caracas alone is home to six million people.
This latest measure to combat the pandemic comes after Maduro previously banned flights to and from Europe, Colombia, Panama and the Dominican Republic. He also suspended school and university classes, and sports events.
Venezuela reported seven new cases of the COVID-19 illness on Sunday, taking its total to 17.
Panama worst affected country in Central America
Panama, which has been the hardest hit in Central America, reported its first coronavirus death earlier this week. Panama's health minister Rosario Turner said the number of confirmed cases in the nation rose to 55 from 43 on Saturday.
From 11.59 p.m on Monday night, only Panamanians and foreign residents would be allowed to enter Panama, security minister Juan Pino said alongside Turner at a news conference.
Panama has ordered communal areas in hotels, discos, bars, and casinos and elsewhere closed, Turner said.
The government has also ordered shops in the country to be shut except supermarkets, pharmacies and medical centers. In addition, Panama has suspended elective surgical procedures and limited hospital visits by outpatients, Turner said.
Honduras imposes strict measures
On Sunday, Honduran police moved people off beaches and out of shops and cafes to enforce an order issued by the government on Saturday to prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people.
President Juan Orlando Hernandez said in a televised address that from one minute before midnight on Sunday, the country's borders would be closed for a week to all traffic, aside from the movement of goods.
All businesses in Honduras with a few exceptions including supermarkets, pharmacies, medical centers, hotels, gas stations and banks would be closed for the time being, Hernandez added.
Costa Rica's government has ordered the closure of all bars and discos as the tally of coronavirus infections in the country rose to 35, the health ministry said on Sunday.
Colombia restricts entry for foreigners
Colombia will block entry to travellers who are not residents or citizens and will close schools and universities from Monday in a bid to control the outbreak of coronavirus, President Ivan Duque said on Sunday.
Colombian citizens and foreign residents who arrive from March 16 will be required to perform an obligatory 14-day period of self isolation, Duque said on Twitter, while educators will start planning for students to study at home.
The Andean country reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 6, and its tally had risen to 34 cases by Sunday.
The government said it would close its border with Venezuela starting Saturday morning, following its earlier declaration of a health emergency, which suspended public gatherings of more than 500 people and blocked cruise ships from docking at its ports.
Brazil's Bolsonaro shrugs off advice  
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took selfies with supporters and celebrated the thousands of protestors gathering in major cities on Sunday, just days after he had called for a suspension of the demonstrations due to the spreading coronavirus.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro meets supporters during a protest against Brazil's Congress and Brazilian Supreme Court in front the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil March 15, 2020.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro meets supporters during a protest against Brazil's Congress and Brazilian Supreme Court in front the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil March 15, 2020. © REUTERS/Adriano Machado
Bolsonaro appeared to shrug off the advice of medical experts suggesting he remain isolated after several members of his delegation to Florida recently tested positive for the virus.
The president tested negative for the virus, as did U.S. President Donald Trump following their meeting, but newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo reported that Bolsonaro's medical team has suggested he remain isolated until early next week.
He will also take another test to rule out all chances that he has the virus, the paper reported on Friday.

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Friday, February 22, 2019

ANALYSIS AND BREAKING AND UPDATE: Venezuela crisis: Border clashes as aid row intensifies


February 22, 2019  21H15  GMT/ZULU
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People approach Venezuelan troops at the border in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima, 22 February 2019Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionPresident Nicolás Maduro has closed Venezuela's border with Brazil
by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Analysts, Caracas
At least two people have died and several others have been injured in clashes at Venezuela's border with Brazil, local media report.
Venezuelan security forces opened fire on a group of civilians who tried to prevent them from blocking the border.
President Nicolás Maduro has closed the country's border with Brazil amid a row over the delivery of humanitarian aid.
It comes as two rival concerts get under way on either side of a bridge linking Venezuela and Colombia.
The clashes occurred when members of the community confronted Venezuelan troops on Friday morning in the southern Venezuelan town of Kumarakapay, AFP news agency reports.
Troops then opened fire on individuals who tried to block a road with the aim of preventing military vehicles from passing, witnesses said.
An ambulance at the scene where several people were injured during clashes in the southern Venezuelan town of Kumarakapay, 22 February 2019Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionAn ambulance at the scene where deadly clashes erupted in southern Venezuela

Why are there clashes at the border?

Venezuela is in the grip of a political and economic crisis. The country's inflation rate has seen prices soar, leaving many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food, toiletries and medicine.
Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself interim leader last month, says a lack of basic items has left thousands at risk of dying.
Humanitarian aid for Venezuela has been arriving at the borders of neighbouring Colombia and Brazil.
Media captionVenezuelan lawmakers also clashed with soldiers on Thursday
Mr Guaidó and his allies hope to collect the relief gathered there on Saturday, in defiance of President Maduro, who denies any crisis and calls the aid plans a US-orchestrated show.
President Maduro has said he could also shut the border with Colombia to stop the opposition bringing in aid.

Why are the concerts taking place?

The concerts, being held just 300m (980ft) apart, represent two opposing sides of a power struggle between President Maduro and Mr Guaidó, who is recognised as the country's interim leader by dozens of countries, including the US and most Latin American nations.
Venezuela Aid Live crowdImage copyrightAFP
Image captionThousands gathered for the Venezuela Aid Live concert near the Colombian city of Cúcuta
One of the concerts, Venezuela Aid Live, was organised by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, who said Mr Guaidó had asked him to set it up.
It is being held near the Tienditas bridge crossing on the Colombian side of the border at Cúcuta. Organisers invited 32 artists including Latin stars Rudy Mancuso, Juanes and Despacito singer Luis Fonsi, and Swedish DJ Alesso.
A few celebrities - including Venezuelan-American singer and actress Lele Pons and Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean - and politicians have also confirmed they were taking part.
"This concert is a humanitarian concert; every country, all people in the world want freedom," Mr Branson said.
"Anybody that does anything for the right reasons is always going to get criticism. The positive thing is that 99% of people around the world are embracing what is going on here today."
Rival Venezuela concerts
Presentational white space
Following news of the event, President Maduro promised to hold a rival concert on the Venezuelan side of the bridge - a three-day festival which has been dubbed Hands Off Venezuela.
The government still has not announced an official line-up for Hands Off Venezuela, but unconfirmed reports claim that about 150 artists are taking part.
Venezuela Aid Live stage erectionImage copyrightEPA
Image captionRichard Branson's concert is happening on the Colombian side of the border
Maduro's concert stageImage copyrightEPA
Image captionWhile Mr Maduro's is happening not far away on the Venezuelan side

What's going on at Venezuela's borders?

Brazil, which recognizes Mr Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader, had previously vowed to make humanitarian aid available in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima, to be collected by opposition supporters.
There are already planes and lorries carrying tonnes of US aid parked on the Colombian side of the Tienditas bridge, and President Maduro has refused to allow it into Venezuela, saying it is part of a ploy by the US to invade the country.
Despite denying that there is a humanitarian crisis at all, President Maduro reportedly received a shipment of aid from Russia earlier this week, according to Russian state media.

So how will the aid get in?

It is not yet clear. Mr Guaidó has said he plans to get aid into the country on Saturday by urging Venezuelans to mobilise en masse and form "caravans" and a "humanitarian avalanche" at the borders.
But even with this effort, it is uncertain whether or not aid will be allowed in.
A spokesman for Mr Branson told us at the BBC that he was working with the Colombian entrepreneur Bruno Ocampo to organise the concert and sort out the logistics while Mr Ocampo said the details "remain confidential".

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