Venezuelans cross into Colombia searching for food

Thousands of Venezuelans poured across the border into Colombia to buy essential goods during a brief opening of the border that's been closed for nearly a year.

After ordering the border closed last August for security reasons, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro authorised a maximum 12-hour opening of the pedestrian bridge that connects Tachira, Venezuela and Cucuta, Colombia.

Economically ravaged Venezuela has suffered food and medicine shortages for months, a ripple effect from the falling price of oil, the country's primary export. Critics also blame grave mishandling of the state-led economy.

Some 500 desperate Venezuelans illegally stormed the border earlier this week in search of basic goods.

 

"There's no medicine for children; children are dying," Tulia Somaza said yesterday as she eagerly shopped among the masses in this border city. "People don't even have soap to wash clothes."

Some people even spent the night in parked vehicles to get a good spot in line for the early 6:00 a.m. (local time) opening.

According to a tweet from William Villamizar, governor of the Norte de Santander department that includes Cucuta, some 25,000 people surged in within the first seven hours.

"Thank God!" was the motto of the day as Venezuelans stocked up on flour, oil, toilet paper and shampoo.

"Thank you for this welcome, the people of Venezuela are experiencing a serious humanitarian situation," said Jose Gregorio Sanchez, a resident of the border town of Urena.

"The Venezuelan government halted the industries that supplied the population," Sanchez said, noting that the devalued Venezuelan currency does make it more expensive to shop in Colombia, but it's "much cheaper" than the Venezuelan black market.

Shortages as high as 80% followed the global dip in oil prices, a devastating blow to a South American country whose oil and gas reserves account for 96% of its exports.

Colombia deployed 300 police officers to Cucuta to monitor two of the city's largest supermarkets following reports of shoving early Sunday.