Thousands of Venezuelans cross border to Colombia for food, supplies

World Today

More than 120,000 Venezuelans in all crossed the border into Colombia recently, taking advantage of a temporary reopening of the border, which was authorized by Venezuela to make citizens be able to buy food and medicine unavailable in their home country.

CCTV America’s Michelle Begue reported from Colombia.
Follow Michelle Begue on Twitter @mbegue

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro shut the border last year in an effort to crack down on smuggling of subsidized products.

But the weekend openings are straining supplies in Colombia’s border towns. Colombia’s Foreign Minister said in a press conference Monday night that there will be no more temporary passage. Instead Colombia is working with Venezuela to permanently re-open the border.

Most people could afford only small purchases, spending on average less than $15 each person, but it added up to more than $1.5 million’s worth of goods flowing across the border.