Venezuelan citizens wait in line to cross into Ecuador on August 11, 2018, as millions of Venezuelans flee their country due to lack of resources such as food and medical supplies. © AFP
France 24: Lack of food pushes 2.3mn to flee Venezuela: UN
About 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled their crisis-hit country mainly because of a lack of food as severe shortages of medicine has left thousands at risk, the UN spokesman said Tuesday.
The Venezuelans have fled to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.
"People cite the lack of food as their main reason for leaving," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. About 1.3 million Venezuelans are suffering from malnourishment.
Severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies have led to a "sharp deterioration of the quality of hospitals," he said, citing UN humanitarian officials.
More than 100,000 Venezuelans living with HIV/AIDS are "at risk due to lack of access to necessary medication," he said.
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Update: UN says an estimated 2.3 million people have fled Venezuela (Washington Post/AP)
WNU Editor: This number is going to be doubled by the end of next year. What also does not help is that the health care system in Venezuela has collapsed .... Hospitals scrap surgeries, Venezuelans forgo showers as taps run dry (Reuters).
