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3/19/2020

Treasury Underscores U.S. Commitment to Humanitarian Support for Venezuelan People | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Underscores U.S. Commitment to Humanitarian
Support for Venezuelan People
August 6, 2019

Washington—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) issued guidance highlighting the United States’ commitment to the unfettered flow of
humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people. OFAC maintains several authorizations that permit
humanitarian-related transactions, enabling continued support to the people of Venezuela and
ensuring that legitimate humanitarian activity is not the target of U.S. sanctions.
“Treasury is committed to ensuring the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the people of
Venezuela, who continue to su er as a result of the mismanagement and corruption of the
illegitimate former Maduro regime. It is imperative that the international community continues
to fully utilize humanitarian exemptions to ensure that food and supplies continue to flow to
Venezuelans su ering from Maduro’s man-made economic crisis,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “The United States stands with the
Venezuelan people and interim President Juan Guaidó in support of e orts to ensure that food,
international aid, and resources reach vulnerable Venezuelans. Treasury regulations have and
will continue to allow for unimpeded humanitarian support to the Venezuelan people, and we
encourage U.S. persons to employ these authorizations to engage with those in need.”
OFAC’s regulations and general licenses allow U.S. persons to continue to provide humanitarian
support to the Venezuelan people, including transactions through the U.S. financial system for
certain authorized activity related to food, agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical
devices; non-commercial, personal remittances; international organizations;
telecommunications and mail; the Internet; medical services; and nongovernmental
organizations.
Humanitarian support is generally excepted from sanctions, so long as such activity meets the
requirements outlined in each authorization. Sanctions do not prohibit U.S. persons from
engaging in transactions involving the country or people of Venezuela, provided blocked
persons or proscribed conduct are not involved.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm752

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3/19/2020

Treasury Underscores U.S. Commitment to Humanitarian Support for Venezuelan People | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Across all sanctions programs, we remain committed to working with the private sector to
clarify U.S. sanctions regulations and promote a risk-based approach to sanctions compliance,
including in cases involving the provision of humanitarian aid. For transactions not otherwise
authorized by OFAC general licenses, OFAC maintains a long-standing, favorable specific
licensing policy supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance through which U.S.
persons can request OFAC approval for such transactions. OFAC considers specific licenses on a
case-by-case basis and prioritizes license applications, compliance questions, and other
requests related to humanitarian support for the Venezuelan people.
View full OFAC Advisory: Guidance Related to the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and
Support to the Venezuelan People
Spanish Translation
Portuguese Translation
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm752

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