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.

SS