Venezuela’s neighbours are tightening their borders, alarmed by the
exodus of hundreds of thousands of desperate refugees fleeing hunger,
hyperinflation and a spiralling political crisis.
Brazil and Colombia are sending extra troops to patrol frontier regions where Venezuelans have arrived in record numbers over recent months.
Colombia, which officially took in more than half a million
Venezuelans over the last six months of 2017, also plans to make it
harder to cross the frontier or stay illegally in Colombia. Brazil said it will shift refugees from regions near the border where social services are badly strained.
The economic crisis and food shortages which have driven so many from their homes show no signs of easing.
The International Monetary Fund forecasts hyperinflation in Venezuela will hit 13,000% this year, so most salaries are now worth the equivalent of just a few British pounds a month.
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