6 hours agoVenezuela reopens border with Colombia after several months
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)Thousands of people crossed the border with Venezuela and Colombia after they first reopened in four months on Saturday, officials say. The transition was closed in February in President Nicolaás Maduro's request for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who was prepared to bring back supported humanitarian aid [...]
The transition was closed in February in President Nicolaás Maduro's request for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who was prepared to bring US-backed humanitarian aid, reports Klan Kosova.
The country has faced lack of basic supplies as a result of a year-long economic crisis.
More than four million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, UN agencies say.
According to the Columbia Foreign Ministry, more than 30,000 Venezuelans arrived on Saturday, with nearly 37,000 left by the end of the day.
Borders with Colombia, Brazil and the Dutch Antilles were all closed earlier this year after the opposition organised the distribution of foreign aid, which was denounced by Maduro as part of an effort to oust him.
Last month, Maduro announced the reopening of the border with Brazil and Aruba Island, but Aruba authorities said the border would remain closed.
Claiming the reopening of the Columbia border in Titter, Maduro, who has blamed the country's crisis in an economic fight led by Washington, said: “We are a people of peace that strongly defend our independence and self-determination “.
