Medicines for Venezuelan Victims of U.S. Sanctions

In April 2019, the Center for Economic and Policy Research (www.cepr.net) released a study finding that U.S. sanctions resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 Venezuelans between mid-2017 and the end of 2018 – and that was prior to the most severe sanctions, which were initiated in January 2019. Most of these people died because of the lack of medicines, medical supplies, or proper medical attention, all of which are either scarce or extremely expensive. Many thousands more are in imminent danger, including the little girl shown in the photo, Desiree, who has a serious disease of the lymph nodes.

This fundraiser is collecting money for the victims of the sanctions. Most of it will be used for the purchase and importation of medicines from neighboring countries like Colombia. It will be sent to a Venezuelan nonprofit organization, the ESCUELA BOLIVARIANA DEL PODER POPULAR, and will be used for the purchase of medicines that will be distributed directly to community-run pharmacies. These pharmacies offer free or low-cost medicines and medical attention to working-class Venezuelans, and thus represent an alternative to the savage profiteering of the capitalist healthcare market. Although they have socialist politics, they operate independently of the Venezuelan government. Anyone wishing to see the legal documentation of the nonprofit organization can email [email redacted]. Receipts for all major monetary transactions will be posted to this site as they become available.

In some cases, like Desiree's, money or medicines will be sent directly to the families to assist with their medical care.