Hunger takes Venezuela

Now the police have to monitor the food stores and supermarkets. Hundreds of people fight over a little food.

The crisis in Venezuela is getting worse. Hundreds of citizens, regardless of their political affiliation and social status, are desperate to get food. Now policemen must watch bakeries, butchers, pharmacies and other grocery stores.

The New York Times reported that at least five people died in the last two weeks, a four-year-old girl died in the midst of more than 50 riots, several supermarkets have been looted and dozens of businesses have been destroyed.

A panorama like this was not seen since the "Caracazo" in the government of Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1989 when low oil prices and subsidy cuts left many Venezuelans impoverished.

Currently, President Nicolás Maduro faces a similar situation. The economic collapse of recent years has made the nation unable to produce enough food and has also been denied the ability to import what is needed.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, imports have fallen by 60% compared to 2015. And Datanálisis, a national consultancy, shows that the price of basic products has increased by 82.8%.

Several agricultural fields in the country have become unproductive due to lack of fertilizers. The machinery rots and the factories are closed. Basic foods such as corn and rice must now be imported and arrive in quantities that fail to supply the entire population.

According to the ENCOVI National Living Conditions Survey, only 42.97% of Venezuelans eat some type of milk, 34.68% eggs and only 28.72% have access to fruits. The study notes that meat consumption has become a luxury, and that 87% of respondents do not have enough income to buy groceries. In addition, it was revealed that 72% of Venezuelan salaries are used to buy food.

To measure the problem a little, it is estimated that the shortage of food has caused prices to rise to such an extent that a family needs 16 minimum wages to be able to have a good diet.

In response, the Venezuelan government has militarized the cities by virtue of an emergency decree, it has also reinforced the control of the food supply in the hands of a group of brigades loyal to the government.

"They're saying, in other words, you can have food if you're a sympathizer," Roberto Briceño-León, the director of the Venezuelan Violence Observatory, told The New York Times.

The shortage of food and medicine begins to permeate other aspects of the lives of citizens. Many parents have decided not to take their children to class and truancy for this reason affects about 25-30% of children. Hospitals have also asked for international help to treat so many people who die in health centers.

Insecurity, violence, riots, deaths, illnesses, and great losses live in Venezuela, without seeing a near incentive.

This post was made with the purpose that everyone can know the situation that Venezuela is experiencing

Thanks for your attention

[Fuente]https://www.semana.com/mundo/articulo/crisis-de-hambre-en-venezuela/478566()