Colombian authorities look to connect with Venezuelan counterparts at blocked border bridge

Record ID: 1397497

  • Title: Colombian authorities look to connect with Venezuelan counterparts at blocked border bridge
  • Date: 27th February 2019
  • Summary: CUCUTA, COLOMBIA (FEBRUARY 27, 2019) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW, THE SIMON BOLIVAR BRIDGE AT THE COLOMBIA-VENEZUELAN BORDER SIMON BOLIVAR BRIDGE CONTAINER AND TRACTOR TRAILER BLOCKING THE BRIDGE ON THE VENEZUELAN SIDE OF THE BORDER OFFICIALS FROM COLOMBIA'S CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCY WALKING OVER TO THE VENEZUELAN SIDE OF THE BORDER TO DISCUSS THE REOPENING OF THE BRIDGE WITH VEN
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2019 14:28
  • Keywords: Colombia Venezuela Maduro Guaido border bridge humanitarian aid Duque
  • Location: CUCUTA, COLOMBIA
  • City: CUCUTA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Overseas Development Aid,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001A3CZPL3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A bridge at the border between Venezuela and Colombia remained closed on Wednesday (February 27) even as Colombian authorities looked to negotiate its reopening with their Venezuelan counterparts.
    The bridge was physically blocked from the Venezuelan side with containers and tractor trailers after attempts to escort humanitarian aid across.
    For Venezuelans living just across the border, a regular trip to Cucuta, Colombia was a lifeline. It was also a source of informal employment for citizens crossing into Colombia for goods to sell back in Venezuela.
    Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to work to get aid through the country's borders, despite resistance from Venezuelan President Nicolas 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.
    (Production: Efrain Otero, Patrick Alwine)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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