- Title: Closed border cuts off lifeline for Venezuelans reeling from shortages
- Date: 27th February 2019
- Summary: SAN ANTONIO, TACHIRA, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 26, 2019) (REUTERS) PEOPLE JUMPING ONTO BACK OF TRUCK PEOPLE OUT ON LOCAL STREET SIGN TOWARDS COLOMBIAN BORDER CITY LOCALS WITH LUGGAGE OUTSIDE BUS TERMINAL LUGGAGE AND PEOPLE INSIDE TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, EMIRANI GARCIA, SAYING: "Right now we are on this side (of the border), all of us Venezuelans suffering, having to leave our country to go to another, or to different areas so that we can survive. We are suffering because of him (Maduro). If he says he loves Venezuelans a lot then why doesn't he twist his arm a little and do things the right way." URENA, TACHIRA, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 26, 2019) (REUTERS) MOTHER TAKING OUT BOOK FOR SON WHO CAN'T ATTEND SCHOOL IN COLOMBIA MOTHER LOOKING AT SON'S BOOK VARIOUS OF SON DOING HIS SCHOOL WORK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF CHILD WHOSE SON HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN VENEZUELA, CELINA GUALDRON, SAYING: "My concern is for my children. He's been studying in Colombia for a year because of what's been happening in Venezuela, the problems that exist. But with this problem we just don't know what to do, my son hasn't been to class for two days. Things in Colombia are not like here in Venezuela where if you lose a class its normal. Over there if you miss a day you fall back, there are exams." BOY DOING SCHOOL WORK BOY WRITING IN EXERCISE BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF CHILD WHOSE SON HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN VENEZUELA, CELINA GUALDRON, SAYING: "The priority here in Urena is that children are studying because the way things are there is no future (here). The future is elsewhere. Colombia is giving aid to Venezuela." SAN ANTONIO, TACHIRA, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 26, 2019) (REUTERS) LOCAL FAMILY NEAR BORDER AREA MOTHER AND DAUGHTER AT BORDER AREA VARIOUS OF WOMAN WAITING AT BORDER AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL WOMAN TRYING TO GET TO COLOMBIA, LIZBETH GARCIA, SAYING: "It's very frustrating because this (border) was an escape for Venezuelans so we can feed ourselves. Given the situation in the country, which is terrible, you have to leave behind your family, leave behind your roots and go to other countries to survive." PEOPLE OUT ON STREET NEAR THE BORDER VARIOUS OF WOMAN SELLING COFFEE ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER BEGGING FOR MONEY AT BORDER, ADRIANA FIGUEREDO, SAYING: "I'm worried for my children, they told me they have no food. My baby is four months, he's on baby food and so I've come here to see if I can do something so as to send food. But as the border is closed there is no work here." VANS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION PARKED AT SIDE OF STREET WOMAN NEAR BORDER PEOPLE SITTING NEAR BORDER AREA
- Embargoed: 13th March 2019 00:30
- Keywords: Urena aid Cucuta Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido President Nicolas Maduro border Colombia shortages
- Location: URENA, SAN ANTONIO, TACHIRA, VENEZUELA
- City: URENA, SAN ANTONIO, TACHIRA, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001A380BWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuelans in the border state of Tachira are struggling, after their respite from daily food shortages was taken away with the closing of the border crossing between this region to the Colombian border city of Cucuta.
The pedestrian border crossing from San Antonio and Urena in Venezuela to Cucuta has been shut since Venezuelans attempted to escort aid across.
For small cities like San Antonio and Urena, a regular trip to Cucuta was a lifeline. It was also a source of informal employment for citizens crossing into Colombia for goods to sell back in Venezuela.
Hundreds of Venezuelan school children who go to school across the border have also been affected. With no date set for the re-opening of the crossing, Celina Gualdron does not know when her son can return to the classroom. Until then, her only option is home school.
Some 3 million people have emigrated from Venezuela, but with no end in sight to the crisis the United Nations has estimated another two million others could join their ranks.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to work to get aid through the country's borders, despite resistance from Maduro who sees the humanitarian help as a front to overthrow his government.
Guaido invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency on January 23 and denounces Maduro as an usurper. Maduro still retains the support of powerful nations like Russia and China, as well as the key backing of the military.
But for these Venezuelans, politicking from both sides of national politics is not enough to address their struggles today.
(Production: Herbert Villaraga / Rene Mendez / Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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