International rescue teams have reported being denied entry, subjected to repeated inspections, or prevented from carrying out their work. Emergency responders from Germany, Spain, and Chile have described bureaucratic obstacles, restrictions, and interference by authorities, while volunteers and journalists have also faced impediments as thousands of Venezuelans remain missing.

The same authoritarian system that devastated Venezuela’s institutions has obstructed independent humanitarian action, delayed responses, and cost countless lives. A free society responds to emergencies with transparency and cooperation that closed systems cannot match. The transfer of power to Delcy Rodriguez changed the face of the regime, but not its nature, and Venezuelans still cannot contribute to relief efforts without political restrictions.

Democratic nations must put pressure on Venezuela’s regime to allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect the work of emergency responders and journalists, and ensure that opposition leaders, including @MariaCorinaYA, are able to safely return to the country. Humanitarian relief cannot be subordinated to political interests.