Caracas, March 24 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has requested that the U.S. government lift its sanctions due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak that has already had a major affect on the Venezuelan economy.

Maduro called on the Venezuelan people to help demand the end of the economic blockade, especially during this “worldwide crisis period.”  The Bolivarian Republic leader also requested the elimination of "financial, oil and food sanctions."

The Venezuelan president announced economic measures to face the sanitary crisis caused by the virus' spread.  Among other dispositions, rent payments will be suspended for six months.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza also published on his official twitter profile:  "In times of a world pandemic, Washington maintains sanctions as instruments of attack against the people to generate suffering, showing the inhumane and cruel character of imperialism.  There is no doubt about it:  Sanctions are a crime and it shows today, now more than ever.”

The Bolivarian Revolution representative added in other publications that Venezuela is requesting the European Commission to create mechanisms to the European Union to lift the sanctions over developing nations.  Arreaza also called on the E.U. to prove the U.S. violates international laws by maintaining the sanctions. 

Other organizations, such as Spain's Communist Party, supported Maduro’s claims and requested blockade lifting on affected nations, alleging human Rrghts non-accomplice against the U.S.

The virus has spread to several Latin American states, leaving a total of 77 people infected in Venezuela. Fortunately, so far, the Venezuelan authorities have not reported any deaths from COVID-19.

In this sense, Caracas has taken all the necessary steps to face this virus.  However, the cruel sanctions by the United States, which are crimes against humanity, have caused difficulties for people to have access to some kind of medicines.