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As someone who lives next door to Venezuela, it seems to me the situation over there has really hit the proverbial fan. Venezuela has been in a disastrous econ

by doozy 10y ago

As someone who lives next door to Venezuela, it seems to me the situation over there has really hit the proverbial fan. Venezuela has been in a disastrous economic situation for years, but nowhere as bad what we are seeing these days. Just yesterday their government opened the border with Colombia for 12 hours (they have kept it closed for a year) and about 125 thousand people crossed into Colombia to buy basic groceries and medicines. 30% did not cross back.

huherto 10y ago
Are people in Venezuela allowed to leave. Can you explain ? > 30% did not cross back. Not surprisingly. It can easily become a humanitarian problem for Colombia. What is the political sentiment in Colombia about this ?
- doozy 10y ago
  Venezuelans have been leaving the country for the last decade or so. There are huge numbers of them here already. It's not easy for them to leave because their currency is basically worthless and access to hard currency is restricted to the well-connected. Also the Venezuelan government closed the border about one year ago. They also kicked out all Colombians from Venezuela. According to the Venezuelan government everything bad that happens there is consequence of the vast Colombian-American right wing conspiracy. Colombians are generally cool about Venezuelans, as the two countries are very similar to each other and have a long history together (at one point they were part of the same country). Neither the people nor the government opposes Venezuelan immigration, as far as I can tell. But Colombia ain't exactly the land of milk and honey and Venezuelans know it. If they are not rushing in greater numbers to the border is because they know that, while there may not be any shortages or blackouts here, jobs are also few and far between.
  - heyzeusalmighty 10y ago
    A little late to comment on my part but all but a handful of my Venezuelan cousins have emigrated and ended up in Miami, Colombia and Argentina. And I know its not only them who have left. Venezuela has lost an entire generation of young professionals to their neighbors.

by doozy 10y ago

huherto 10y ago

Are people in Venezuela allowed to leave. Can you explain ? > 30% did not cross back. Not surprisingly. It can easily become a humanitarian problem for Colombia. What is the political sentiment in Colombia about this ?

doozy 10y ago
Venezuelans have been leaving the country for the last decade or so. There are huge numbers of them here already. It's not easy for them to leave because their currency is basically worthless and access to hard currency is restricted to the well-connected. Also the Venezuelan government closed the border about one year ago. They also kicked out all Colombians from Venezuela. According to the Venezuelan government everything bad that happens there is consequence of the vast Colombian-American right wing conspiracy. Colombians are generally cool about Venezuelans, as the two countries are very similar to each other and have a long history together (at one point they were part of the same country). Neither the people nor the government opposes Venezuelan immigration, as far as I can tell. But Colombia ain't exactly the land of milk and honey and Venezuelans know it. If they are not rushing in greater numbers to the border is because they know that, while there may not be any shortages or blackouts here, jobs are also few and far between.
- heyzeusalmighty 10y ago
  A little late to comment on my part but all but a handful of my Venezuelan cousins have emigrated and ended up in Miami, Colombia and Argentina. And I know its not only them who have left. Venezuela has lost an entire generation of young professionals to their neighbors.