Mass Exodus From 'Mad Max Violence' in Venezuela: Thousands Flee Across Bridge to Colombia Amid Desperate Hunger and Soaring Crime Following Economic Crisis

by Keiran Southern, Daily Mail:

• Thousands of desperate Venezuelans are trying to enter Colombia through the border crossing of Cucuta
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• They are fleeing hunger, inflation and the political crisis threatening to engulf the South American country
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• Colombia – along with neighbour Brazil – has sent extra soldiers to patrol their porous border with Venezuela
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• The crisis shows no sign of easing and Colombian lawmakers are beginning to tighten their border controls

The dire economic conditions have led to lawlessness in parts of Venezuela’s capital Caracas, with truck drivers subjected to ‘Mad Max’ violence as looters target heavy goods vehicles carrying food.

These incredible images show the thousands of desperate Venezuelans trying to flee the crisis-hit country by pouring into neighbouring Colombia

Refugees trying to flee hunger, inflation and the political crisis threatening to engulf the country. Many people are struggling to feed their families

In reaction to the crisis, Colombian lawmakers have begun to take steps to tighten their border controls. The new measures could make it more difficult for Venezuelan migrants to cross into the country illegally

According to Reuters, there were 162 lootings across Venezuela in January, including 42 robberies of trucks.

That is compared to just eight lootings, including one truck robbery, 12 months ago. 

Last month, eight people were killed in lootings. 

Venezuela has one of the world’s highest murder rates, and the attacks are pushing up food and transport costs. 

The truckers are not allowed to carry guns, so they have resorted to forming convoys to protect themselves. They text each other warnings about potential trouble spots and keep moving as fast as possible. 

Massive numbers of Venezuelans have been driven from their homes by a dire financial crisis that has seen many struggling to feed themselves. 

But the mass migration arrives at a challenging time for Colombia and lawmakers have moved to tighten border controls. 

In a visit to a border city at the epicenter of Colombia’s mounting migration crisis, President Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday announced new measures that could make it more difficult for Venezuelan migrants to cross into the country illegally or remain there without any official status.

‘Colombia has never lived a situation like the one we are encountering today,’ Santos said.

Migration into Colombia has surged as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has moved to consolidate his rule and the nation’s economy plummets. 

Colombia migration authorities say there are an estimated 600,000 Venezuelans currently in Colombia – double the number six months ago. 

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More than 2,000 additional military officers will be deployed to control the hundreds of dirt-road crossings known as ‘trochas’ that dot Colombia’s 1,370-mile (2,200-kilometer) border with Venezuela. 

A new migration patrol unit will also police public spaces where Venezuelan arrivals congregate, provide them orientation and to control issues like prostitution that have surfaced in the migration wave’s wake. 

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