Thousands cross Venezuela border shopping for scarce food

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans, some of whom drove through the night in caravans, crossed the border into Colombia on Sunday to hunt for food and medicine that are in short supply at home.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had ordered the border closing in August 2015 after an alleged Colombian paramilitary unit attacked a Venezuelan military patrol, leaving three people wounded and raising tensions between the two governments.

The objectives during these two days are to show solidarity with people seeking temporary entry into Colombian territory, and to cooperate in matters that contribute positively in the border region, the ministry said.

Colombian Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas told reporters that security forces would guarantee the arrival of supplies for Cucuta’s residents as well as Venezuelan shoppers.

The border is set to remain open for a total of 12 and a half hours.

(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos). Venezuelans gather to cross the border between Venezuela and Colombia at the Simon Bolivar bridge in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, to buy supplies Sunday July 17, 2016.

Venezuela has been affected by falling oil prices and seen severe shortages of basic goods for months. Afterwards, the number dropped to 3,000 people per day, a lot of them students and ill people who were provided with special day passes. Global observers have been quick to blame Maduro for his mishandling of the state-led economy.

Venezuela’s government closed all crossings a year ago to crack down on smuggling along the 1,378-mile (2,219 kilometer) border.

Many supermarket have empty shelves and Venezuelans spend days in queues to buy basic goods.