The current situation of Venezuela comes as a surprise to many, and it is a real nightmare that came true.
If not long ago, the standard of life for a typical Venezuelan was higher than in most developing countries. As you read between the lines, the situation is dramatically changing – the bare necessities like food, water or hygiene, are seen as true luxuries.
As soon as two years ago, a regular day for a Venezuelan did not differ from ours. Everybody had access to education, you could find anything you needed in the supermarket, and if you encountered any medical issues, you could have trusted the hospitals to help you. It was the average (and above-average from certain points of view) lifestyle.
This façade has slowly fainted, though, leading to the horror that happens today. The left-socialist roots and influences have put their imprint on the country’s fate, a country whose only pillar used to be the enormous oil reserves they have. But when the price dropped on the global market, Venezuela was forced to sell it for less than the usual price, $100 a barrel. And it all went downhill from there.
In other terms, the government was not ready for such drastic change. The only pillar sustaining a high-standard type of life was falling apart, and so was the infrastructure. The country had been in an unstable balance for way too long to subsist any longer.
What actually fanned the flames was the official statement that was made at the end of April regarding the financial situation at that moment – Venezuela could not afford to purchase paper to print new money. The situation turned around in no time, causing a real crisis.
A few days later, the government announced that due to insufficient energy supplies, the workdays will be shortened to 2 a week. It did not take long until other basic needs could not be met anymore: a food shortage determined people to start stealing from their neighbors. Moreover, not only regular citizens began to suffer – 6 soldiers were arrested for stealing goats because they had no food in their barrack.
Hunting pigeons, cats, and dogs is another way of coping with hunger in Venezuela. People have resorted to such abnormalities after the crime incidence has increased like mad, in the context where it was already the country with the highest crime rate in the whole world.
The scenes seem ripped from prehistoric times, and it is all a matter of survival now. For instance, after being caught multiple times mugging people in the street, Roberto Fuentes Bernal, 42, has been beaten up and set on fire before the Police could arrive. And this is not the only type of crime that occurred during the last weeks.
At the beginning of May, 5000 people that were waiting in line for their portioned food supplies have stormed into the supermarket and looted every resource they could find, targeting milk, flour, powder milk, oil and pasta in particular.
Pharmaceutical stores and the medical system ran out of necessary medical supplies a long time ago, and the only way to provide any antibiotics, gloves, soap or drugs is the black market. The hospitals look savage and inspire anything but health and wellness – due to the power outage, the equipment and devices cannot be used. Because there is no water, the blood on the operation tables can’t be washed, turning them to real pest holes.
As the situation worsens, the specialists estimate 2 more months until the regime will come to an end. But what will be happening during these months? Will people flee to other countries or will they endure it all?
If it were to think about it, shaking signals are in many countries’ infrastructures. Even U.S.’ government is poisoned with corruption and waste, and if we don’t play our cards right, chances are we will have a similar fate as theirs.
The elections that will take place this fall will definitely set the balance towards secureness or chaos, so prepare yourself for any possible scenario and make sure you will vote the nominee that represents the best our chances of thriving, not declension.
What do you think about the imminent crisis? What other states do you think are prone to follow in the next couple of years? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.