Venezuelans make risky trips to Colombia

By Lokman Ilhan

CUCUTA, Colombia (AA) - Venezuelans are using side routes controlled by armed criminals to enter Colombia risking their lives amid an aid standoff at the border.

Last week, Venezuela closed the border with Colombia, cutting diplomatic ties with its neighbor, with President Nicolas Maduro saying the country did not need aid being sent by the U.S. and its allies.

Facing food shortages in the oil-rich country that has been hit by U.S. sanctions, Venezuelans are making treacherous journeys to Cucuta, a border city of Colombia, through 'trocha' or parallel pathways which are controlled by gangs.

Juan Guaido, who is leading the opposition in Venezuela, and his allies tried to lead a movement to bring aid inside the country last Saturday, but only one truck was able to enter the country.

At least four people were killed and 200 others injured Saturday during anti-government protests in Venezuela. Fifty-one people were also arrested as they clashed with security forces at the Colombian border.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions escalated when Guaido, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China and Bolivia reiterated their support for Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S.

Maduro insists he is a victim of a U.S.-orchestrated coup amid spiraling economic and humanitarian crises in the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump pointed to military intervention as a possibility among a number of choices he could use to help resolve the crisis.

Venezuela is experiencing widespread shortages of food and medicine and has the highest inflation rate in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.