Members and resources of the Armed Forces of Uruguay deployed to support the community in the face of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic with the distribution of basic and medical supplies and border patrols, among other essential measures. On March 13, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou declared a health emergency as [ … ]
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Venezuelan Military Leads Narcotrafficking Cartel, UN Acknowledges
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), a United Nations (U.N.) body, confirmed in its latest annual report the existence of the so-called Cartel of the Suns, a criminal narcotrafficking network led by Venezuela’s top military officials with the regime’s support. It is the first time that the INCB has presented [ … ]

Chilean Armed Forces Take Action to Fight Coronavirus
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera declared a state of emergency for 90 days beginning March 19, to address the COVID-19 crisis. The borders are closed to foreign visitors in an attempt to avoid the entry of people who might be infected, and a curfew was established from 10 p.m. to 5 [ … ]

Argentine Armed Forces Join the Fight Against Coronavirus
The Argentine Armed Forces have joined national prevention efforts against coronavirus to confront a potential infection peak. The Ministry of Defense ordered the creation of 14 Joint Emergency Zone Commands and 10 task forces nationwide. Service members will provide logistics support to security forces, conduct humanitarian assistance activities, distribute food, [ … ]

As Coronavirus Spreads Fast, The US Leads The World’s Humanitarian and Health Assistance Response To The Pandemic
The U.S. government has mobilized unprecedented resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and is providing substantial foreign assistance. “Today, I am pleased to announce that the United States has made available nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian funding. Along with the U.S. private sector, the American people [ … ]

COVID-19 Arrives in Venezuela Amid Health Care Crisis
Mayerling Oropeza had her last race on Sunday, March 1. The 50-year-old cyclist and web designer was run over on a road east of Caracas, when she was heading back home after participating in an event known as BiciRock. The driver fled the scene and left her on the street. [ … ]

Ecuador’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
The number of coronavirus cases in Ecuador continues to increase with nearly 2,000 cases as of late March and nearly 30 deaths. President Lenín Moreno decreed a state of emergency throughout the country on March 16, and established a curfew from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. to contain the expansion [ … ]

Colombian Armed Forces Stand Up Field Hospitals to Battle Coronavirus
As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Colombia continues to rise, the military is doing its part to help assist in combatting the virus. These efforts range from securing the nation’s borders, patrolling the streets with police to enforce stay at home orders and social distancing, and handing [ … ]

Peruvian Armed Forces Join the Fight Against Coronavirus
Peru declared a state of emergency on March 15. President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo announced the strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the country. The state of emergency has been extended to April 12 with all Peruvian borders to remain closed. The Armed Forces were immediately called to [ … ]

UN: Attacks in Venezuela Spike Against Government’s Political Opponents
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is deploring the violent, escalating attacks against political opponents of the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Bachelet presented an oral update of the situation in Venezuela to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 10. Bachelet said the human rights situation [ … ]

Brazilian Army, Air Force, and Navy Assist in Combating COVID-19
On March 18, Brazilian Minister of Defense Army General (ret.) Fernando Azevedo e Silva said that the Brazilian Navy, Army, and Air Force were at the service of Brazil in the fight against COVID-19 (the disease caused by the coronavirus), offering operational and logistic resources. “This is a war. The [ … ]

Human Rights Abuse Rampant In Venezuela’s Gold Mining
A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) details the gruesome conditions that gold miners in Venezuela are forced to endure. Twelve percent of Venezuela, a country rich in natural resources such as oil, diamonds and uranium, has gold and mineral deposits. In Venezuela’s southern Bolívar state, pro-Maduro civilian armed [ … ]