US sanctions and aid policies in Venezuela and Cuba face NGO and congressional scrutiny

Venezuelan NGOs sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the United States to guarantee full transparency and public accountability for humanitarian assistance flowing into Venezuela after the June 24 earthquakes that have killed 4,561 people and injured 16,740. The groups request regular publication of aid sources, purposes, beneficiaries and independent verification, as well as tax, tariff and port‑fee exemptions and the removal of legal obstacles to aid delivery. They also criticize the appointment of a National Guard commander to head the disaster response.

In a separate visit, a Democratic congressional delegation to Havana described the impact of President Donald Trump’s intensified sanctions on Cuba as a “silent Gaza,” noting island‑wide power blackouts, severe food and medicine shortages, trash buildup and crippled public services. Lawmakers called for an immediate lift of the sanctions, arguing that they are causing a humanitarian catastrophe and urging a diplomatic reset of U.S.–Cuba relations.