Venezuelans cross into Colombia to buy basic goods
Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into neighboring Colombia to buy essential goods amid shortages caused by a decline in oil revenues in Venezuela.
Many people spent the night at crossings in the western state of Tachira, before Venezuelan authorities opened the border briefly in the early morning hours of Sunday.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the border with Colombia to close last year to crack down on smugglers.
The crowd flooded the nearby Colombian cities of La Parada and Cucuta to get much-needed food, medicine and other basic stuff.
The desperate shoppers cleared shelves at supermarkets and stores by mid-morning.
Colombian Governor of Norte de Santander William Villamizar estimated that about 35,000 Venezuelans crossed the border into nearby Colombian cities like La Parada and Cucuta.
Venezuelan Carmen Velazco said the situation is drastic.
“We don't have food. We don't have cooking oil. We don't have flour. So that is why we have to come here,” she said.
Venezuela is suffering from an acute economic crisis. Electricity supplies are low, and working days have been reduced to two days a week only.
Hospitals are said to be in critical need of supplies; some medical devices are broken; and a number of hospitals are even said to be running without enough water to wash away blood from operation beds.
Shortages have been so great and prices so high that looting has increased in Venezuela.
Since 2014, Venezuela has been grappling with protests against Maduro, with the opposition vigorously pushing for a recall election.
The Maduro government has denounced the opposition’s plans as a US-backed attempt to bring about a coup d’état in the country.
Maduro says the shortages in the country are also the result of an “economic war” started by the US-backed opposition.
Since January, an economic state of emergency, including rationing of food and other goods, has been in force in Venezuela.
The country is facing economic crisis largely because of the crash in price of oil, which is the country's primary export commodity.
Iran decries US intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs
'New chapter in cooperation': Iran, Venezuela sign new MoUs
Venezuela, Russia sign new energy, defense deals
The important of Venezuela for Iran
Iran beats traditional rival Russia in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling friendly
Rape trials trigger protests against French ‘sexist and misogynistic’ culture
US photographer opens Berlin exhibition with anti-Israel speech
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
VIDEO | US 'non-profit killer’ bill targets pro-Palestinian groups
Explainer: How Yemeni military chased away US aircraft carrier from Red Sea?
French march for women of Palestine
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
