Venezuela Reopens Colombian Border to Allow Shoppers to Cross

EghtesadOnline: Venezuela has opened its border with Colombia for the second time this month to allow people to cross over to shop for basic foods and medicines.

News ID: ۷۶۸۲۷۵

18 July 2016

Last week, 35,000 crossed over for the first time since the border was closed a year ago by President Nicolas Maduro to fight cross-border crime.
Officials said at least that many had entered Colombia on Saturday, BBC reported.
Many basic goods are in short supply in Venezuela because of a severe economic crisis in the country.
The border across a pedestrian bridge connecting Tachira in Venezuela and Cucuta in Colombia opened a day earlier than authorities from both countries had previously announced.
Officials said they wanted to avoid the buildup of too many people. It was expected to stay open in Sunday.
Venezuela has suffered severe shortages for months as a result of the falling price of oil, which is the country's prime source of income.
Many supermarkets have empty shelves and Venezuelans spend days in queues to buy basic goods.
Government critics also blame President Maduro for severe mismanagement of the economy.
Maduro has blamed the country's business community for the shortages. He ordered the border to be closed in August 2015 after former Colombian paramilitaries attacked a Venezuelan military patrol and wounded three soldiers.