"I will do whatever it takes to meet you there," stated the leader, who had planned to travel from Panama to "be with them in these heartbreaking hours."
Machado explained that her intention was to return to Venezuela to "be with the Venezuelan people in a moment of mourning" and participate in accompanying the victims of the natural disaster. However, she denounced that her flight was blocked as part of what she considers a government strategy to prevent the arrival of figures from the Venezuelan opposition to the country.
According to her circle, United States would have exerted diplomatic pressure to prevent the leader from using alternative routes through the Caribbean, which would have further complicated her return. Despite this, Machado insisted that "it's not about me, there are millions of us who want to be together" amid the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
In her message, the opposition leader also accused the Venezuelan government of hindering humanitarian work in the disaster area, citing restrictions on international rescue teams, civil organizations, and journalists. "They want to bury the truth when Venezuelans want to bury their loved ones with dignity," she stated.
The situation in the country remains critical after the double earthquake on San Juan Day, which has left thousands dead, injured, and missing, as well as causing severe structural damage in different regions of the country.
Meanwhile, civil organizations continue search and assistance efforts in coordination with international teams, while political tension between the government and the Venezuelan opposition escalates.
Machado has stated that she will try again in the coming days, reaffirming her intention to return to Venezuela despite the restrictions of the Nicolás Maduro regime.