- Title: Surge in Venezuelan emigrants as crisis deepens
- Date: 25th July 2017
- Summary: TACHIRA, VENEZUELA (JULY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF LARGE GROUP OF VENEZUELANS LINED UP BY BORDER VENEZUELANS SHUFFLING FORWARD IN QUEUE VARIOUS OF VENEZUELANS WAITING IN LINE BY BORDER VENEZUELANS FILING THROUGH BARRICADES SET UP BY MIGRATION OFFICIALS SWOLLEN QUEUE OF VENEZUELANS MIGRATION OFFICIAL CHECKING DOCUMENTATION OFFICERS ON DUTY AT POINT NEAR BORDER OFFICERS STANDING ON DUTY STANDING IN LINE NEAR QUEUE OF PEOPLE CROSSING OUT OF VENEZUELA PEOPLE FILING THROUGH QUEUE POLICE OFFICER WATCHING AS PEOPLE FILE THROUGH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT TO COLOMBIA, EVA URIBARRI, SAYING: "It's sad. At least I don't have children, I am not married but I leave behind my mother, my nephews, I leave behind the land where I was born. I leave behind my deceased (loved ones). I never wanted to leave my land, nobody wants to leave the place where they were born, where I played. But here you can't find any future because things are tough." WOMAN IN RELIGIOUS HABIT WALKING TOWARDS BORDER WITH SUITCASE WOMAN IN RELIGIOUS HABIT HUGGING WOMAN NEAR BORDER PEOPLE WITH BAGS AND SUITCASES WALKING TOWARDS BORDER VENEZUELANS WITH SUITCASES NEAR BORDER SOLDIER ON DUTY AS PEOPLE WALK TOWARDS BORDER PEOPLE SEATED NEAR BORDER AREA WOMAN LYING HER HEAD ON HER BAG NEAR BORDER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT TO PANAMA, NEIDA CONTRERAS, SAYING: "I feel extremely sad. It is difficult to pack my life into two suitcases, I have my whole life in two suitcases. And I do it for my children because there is no future in Venezuela, there is nothing in Venezuela. Unfortunately we have had to flee the country. Our country was once so beautiful but we can't live here, we can't." WOMAN AND HER SON CARRYING BAGS AND SUITCASES TOWARDS BORDER PEOPLE WAITING BY BORDER WITH THEIR BAGS AND SUITCASES PEOPLE STANDING BY BORDER WITH THEIR BELONGINGS LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO CROSS BORDER BY FOOTBRIDGE NEAR BORDER PEOPLE WALKING NEAR BORDER AREA
- Embargoed: 8th August 2017 21:52
- Keywords: Venezuela goods migration border crossing thousands cross into Colombia emigration
- Location: TACHIRA, VENEZUELA
- City: TACHIRA, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016R7VM13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuela's political crisis is spilling over into Latin American countries, with thousands of Venezuelans lining up on Tuesday (July 25) to cross the country's land border into Colombia.
The surge in citizens heading towards the border comes just days before an election for a new constituent assembly with powers to change the constitution. The government says the new body will bring peace to the divided nation. But the opposition says the move is designed to cement government rule in Venezuela.
The OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) nation is wracked by shortages in food and medicine, a flailing economy and rampant crime. Government protests that have raged on for months have killed some 100 people.
And with no end in sight to the political stalemate, Venezuelans are heading to the border. According to the UNHCR, the UN's refugee body, nearly 30,000 Venezuelans applied for asylum worldwide in 2016. So far in 2017 that number stands at nearly double.
For many, neighbouring Colombia is a prime destination, but Panama, Mexico and the US are also popular choices for Venezuelan emigrants. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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