Protests erupt as Venezuela suffers from actue food crisis

Caracas, June 17: Venezuela is reeling under acute food crisis that has lead to several incidents of protests, looting and arrests. News reports suggest that people are attacking trucks carrying food and other food related items, an indication that the counrty is slowly slipping into a deeper crisis.

Several photographs and videos were doing the rounds of social media showing people looting stores in order to grab whatever food they could. Several merchants even refused to opens their shops following the protests.

Venezuela is currently witnessing sky-high inflation, which is a result of the plummeting oil prices. People are devoid of food, basic healthcare and power-all contributing to the political unrest in the country.

The crisis has even hit schools, with hundreds of students dropping out as they go out in search of food with their families.

Meanwhile, President Nicolas Maduro declared a 'constitutional state of emergency.' He also blamed his opponents, saying that they were waging an economic war against him and were seeking to instigate a coup.

The Opposition has blamed Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez for the current economic situation in the country.

On the other hand, 400 people were detained earlier this week and several reportedly shot dead after street violence. Local authorities however have denied the claims of casualties.

OneIndia News