HAMILTON, Canada

Recent air and maritime restrictions amid rising tensions between the US and Venezuela risk further worsening the South American country's already "fragile" economy and deepening humanitarian suffering, a senior UN official warned Tuesday.

Speaking at an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Venezuela, Khaled Khiari, assistant secretary-general for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said Venezuela's economy was "already extremely fragile, with soaring inflation, currency instability and widespread income erosion" leaving millions unable to meet basic needs.

He warned that "recent air and maritime restrictions, along with reduced exports, risk further constraining the Government's fiscal ability to deliver basic public services."

Khiari told the Council members that the US military presence and operations in the Southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela have increased since the Council last discussed the situation on Oct. 10, "further heightening tensions between the two countries."

Tensions escalated further on Dec. 10 when President Donald Trump announced that the US had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, stating that the Venezuelan government was using oil revenues to finance criminal activities.

Venezuelan authorities have described these actions as a "unilateral naval blockade."

In identical letters dated Dec. 17 and addressed to the UN secretary-general and the president of the Security Council, Venezuela's permanent representative said US actions violate the country's national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

While some regional allies have supported the US actions, Khiari said other member states within and beyond the region have expressed concern over the militarization of the Southern Caribbean and stressed the importance of respecting national sovereignty and international law. Several have called for de-escalation and dialogue.

As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, Khiari affirmed that the UN and its partners are delivering assistance to the Venezuelan people, including through funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund.

He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stands ready to support diplomatic engagement, mediation initiatives and peaceful solutions, stressing that "dialogue is the only viable path toward lasting peace and preventing further instability and human suffering."