As Venezuela braces for potential U.S. navy intervention, residents on the Colombia border inform NPR about their fears and hopes.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Within the Caribbean, the U.S. has assembled its largest navy presence there in a long time with greater than half a dozen warships off the Venezuelan coast. Whereas President Trump hasn’t but spelled out his plans for Venezuela, he has publicly stated he isn’t ruling out navy motion. He additionally says he is prepared to have interaction in talks with Venezuela’s authoritarian chief, Nicolas Maduro.
NPR’s Carrie Kahn traveled to the Colombian-Venezuelan border to listen to Venezuelan’s considerations.
(SOUNDBITE OF CARS HONKING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Non-English language spoken).
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: It is an overcast and windy day at this busy border crossing exterior the Northeastern Colombian metropolis of Cucuta. Many individuals simply got here into Colombia for the day to purchase issues that they can not get in Venezuela, or too costly, and also you see them carrying luggage and luggage filled with every little thing, from Christmas decorations to wooden merchandise to eggs.
ALFREDO VIVAS: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “The economic system is basically robust now,” says 61-year-old Alfredo Vivas.
(SOUNDBITE OF CARTONS BEING WRAPPED)
KAHN: He is wrapping up 12 massive carton of eggs he simply purchased to promote again dwelling in Venezuela. He makes this border egg run each two weeks, however says, these days, he cannot cost an excessive amount of. Nobody has cash. I ask him if individuals are apprehensive a couple of U.S. assault.
“No, not that a lot,” he says.
VIVAS: (Non-English language spoken, laughter).
KAHN: “What’s scarier is staying in Venezuela,” he jokes. Inflation is skyrocketing, estimated to prime 500% this 12 months. And lots of say, it is gotten too harmful to talk your thoughts.
LINDA: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “There isn’t any freedom of expression,” says this girl, who requested we solely use our first identify, Linda. She’s on the border serving to her sister depart for Colombia. She’s afraid Venezuelan authorities will see her speaking to me.
LINDA: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “For certain they’re going to seize me and throw me into jail,” she says, clutching her shivering chihuahua wrapped in a pink knit vest. She says she hardly goes out anymore. The state of affairs may be very tense nowadays, she says. Since President Nicolas Maduro declared victory in elections final 12 months, broadly discredited as fraudulent, he is cracked down onerous on dissidents.
Practically 8 million Venezuelans have fled the nation throughout his greater than a decade-long rule. There aren’t any figures on what number of have left lately. However Marta Duque, who runs a migrant shelter at a close-by Colombian border city, says she’s seen an uptick because the U.S. buildup.
MARTA DUQUE: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “Relations overseas are telling their Venezuelan family members to get out now and are available to them the place it is secure,” she says.
DUQUE: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “No less than till all that is over,” she says, “since nobody is aware of when or what will occur.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EL PORTENITO”)
BANDA LA BOCANA: (Singing in a non-English language).
KAHN: At this enormous grocery store in Cucuta, Venezuelan buyers load carts with cooking oil and pasta. A gradual stream additionally decide up cash from kin overseas on the Western Union kiosk. This man, who requested we solely use his first identify, Jose, out of concern of retribution, says he is grateful for Trump.
JOSE: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “There is not any means Venezuelans can get out of this with out drive,” he says. However he warns the prospect of a U.S. intervention in Venezuela is worrisome. “Nobody desires one other Iraq or Afghanistan right here,” he says.
JOSE: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: “The day after is the issue,” he says. “We wish to assume we might be completely different.” However he says that uncertainty has everybody scared. Carrie Kahn, NPR Information, Cucuta, Colombia.
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