MARACAIBO, (Reuters) – As dawn breaks over the scorching Venezuelan city of Maracaibo, smugglers, young mothers and a handful of kids stir outside a supermarket where they spent the night, hoping to be first in line for scarce rice, milk or whatever may be available.
Some of the people in line are half-asleep on flattened cardboard boxes, others are drinking coffee. Almost all are bemoaning their situation.
With shortages of basic goods and looting on the rise, more Venezuelans say they are resorting to nighttime waits in front of closed stores.
“I can’t get milk for my child. What are we going to do?” said Leida Silva, 54, breaking into tears outside the Latino supermarket in northern Maracaibo where she arrived at 3 a.m. on a recent day.
The food shortages in Venezuela, a major oil producer, stem from currency controls that restrict the availability of U.S. dollars for imports. Lower oil prices, a recession and rampant inflation have further darkened the economic outlook. The Information Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
There have been scores of looting attempts this year, fueling fears of worsening scarcity. Several states banned nighttime queues earlier this year, at times citing problems with crime.
“I’m scared, of course, but it’s the only way we can eat,” said Ofenia Gonzalez, 46, spending the night outside a supermarket in the hopes of finding food for her nine children.
