Hundreds of Venezuelan cancer sufferers, including children, could die because US sanctions are blocking their access to medical treatment overseas, UN experts have said.
Alena Douhan, a sanctions expert, and other UN investigators, said US financial curbs on Venezuela and its state-owned oil company Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA) have effectively ruined a much-needed treatment programme.
The Simon Bolivar Foundation, the charity arm of US-based Citgo Petroleum Corporation, which is majority owned by PDVSA, has been forced to scrap a project that took Venezuelan cancer sufferers abroad for treatment not available in their homeland.
“Targeting PDVSA as a way to control the political agenda of Venezuela has had devastating consequences for hundreds of people undergoing treatment for transplant rejection, in Venezuela and abroad,” the experts said.
“People on a state waiting list for transplants have also been informed that their treatments will not continue.”
The US sanctioned Venezuela’s state oil company in early 2019 over allegations that President Nicolas Maduro had rigged his re-election in 2018. Various other sanctions have been imposed on the country over the past 15 years.
Still, US sanctions and diplomatic pressure have had little effect. Mr Maduro’s allies, who deny election rigging, said they will not hold presidential elections before 2024.
Ms Douhan says US sanctions have had a devastating effect on the country.
Foreign governments, banks and private companies have been cautious in dealings with Venezuela for fear of reprisals from US regulators and have blocked financial transactions with the Opec nation, she said.
As a result, the experts said some Venezuelan cancer patients are unable to access funds needed for foreign medical trips, while some have been stranded overseas after travelling for treatment.
“A trip abroad for treatment has become the only hope for hundreds of critically ill patients,” the experts said.
“The lives of Venezuelan transplant patients who are stranded in foreign countries, as well as those waiting to travel abroad for life-saving operations, are under threat.”
The experts said they had contacted the US government about the problem and urged Washington to “mitigate the unexpected consequences of sanctions” so patients could access chemotherapy and other treatments.
The US State Department and the Treasury did not immediately reply to The National’s request for comment.
The US has faced mounting criticism for its overuse of sanctions and the collateral economic damage they cause. The administration of US President Joe Biden is reviewing its punitive sanctions policy and is expected to make changes at the end of the summer.
Ms Douhan made the statement along with Nils Melzer, Obiora Okafor, Livingstone Sewanyana, Saad Alfarargi and Tlaleng Mofokeng, who are all part of the UN’s human rights apparatus.
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
On racial profiling at airports
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
More from Aya Iskandarani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
