Venezuelan migrants stand in line to register their exit from Colombia before entering into Ecuador, at the Rumichaca International Bridge, Colombia August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Tapia
Reuters: Venezuelan migrants throng Ecuador-Colombia border high up in Andes
RUMICHACA BRIDGE (Reuters) - Thousands of Venezuelans overwhelmed the Ecuadorean-Colombian border high in the Andean mountains on Thursday, as fears of border closings led to a sudden surge in migrants from the ravaged OPEC-member country.
Impoverished Venezuelans are fleeing food shortages, hyperinflation, and violent crime in their homeland, often taking days-long bus rides across South America because they cannot afford flights.
Ecuador’s government on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in three provinces due to a jump in Venezuelans who arrived through Colombia. Authorities said up to 4,500 Venezuelans had crossed daily since the weekend, up from around 500 to 1,000 people previously.
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Update: Ecuador declares state of emergency over Venezuela migrant influx (Al Jazeera)
WNU Editor: Even though Venezuela is a 1,000km away from the border of Ecuador .... it is not stopping the mass exodus that is now occurring from that impoverished country. In fact .... the exodus has exploded in the past week over fears that all countries that border Venezuela will soon be closing the border. In the event that the border does become close .... here is an easy prediction .... the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela will quickly escalate into a disaster.
