Venezuela: violent demonstrations against the rise in food products

Already facing a serious economic and social crisis, Venezuela must face the coronavirus. Cristian HERNANDEZ / AFP

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For the second day in a row, unrest related to the availability of food took place inside Venezuela.

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Faced with a serious economic crisis for several years, Venezuela must also face the epidemic of coronavirus. If officially, the country has recorded only 298 cases and a dozen deaths, confinement adds to the extreme precariousness of the population. For the past two days, the shortage of gasoline combined with hyperinflation and the shortage of food products seem to have ignited the powder in several cities of the country.

Army announces 28-year-old man shot dead Thursday in Upata, a city of 100,000 in Bolivar state, during protests against "  rising food prices" and basic necessities  ”, according to a report by the Venezuelan army which Agence France-presse was able to learn about. The shots came "a priori of the police force  ”, according to the regional governor, Justo Noguera. Shops were also looted and vandalized and around 30 people arrested.

According to local media, other protests took place in the states of Monagas in the east and Portuguesa in the west. Seven people were injured on Wednesday in protests that also turned to looting in eastern Sucre State, according to an opposition lawmaker.

(with AFP)

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  • Venezuela
  • Coronavirus
  • Containment
  • Economic crisis
  • Food

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