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Venezuela, Colombia agree to gradual reopening of border

Venezuela and Colombia agreed on Thursday to the gradual reopening of their border one year after the Venezuelan government closed crossings to crack down on smuggling.

The announcement came after Presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia met in the Venezuelan city of Puerto Ordaz. The two agreed to begin the process starting Saturday. Officials will open five border checkpoints for pedestrians from 6am to 9pm each day.

The weekend is sure to see a crush of Venezuelans flooding into Colombia to buy food and medicine. Venezuelans have been desperate to cross into Colombia to buy basics as shortages worsen in their economically struggling country, an OPEC member that has been hit hard by the fall in oil prices. Some people in the towns on the Venezuelan side of the border have died after being refused permission to cross to better-stocked Colombian hospitals.

Hundreds of Venezuelans stormed a border checkpoint in July and illegally crossed into Colombia for the day to go grocery shopping. In the weeks following that incident, Venezuela temporarily opened the border for short periods to allow people to buy food and medicine. More than 100,000 Venezuelans crossed into Colombia during a temporary weekend border opening in July. Many had driven in caravans through the night for a chance at snagging precious goods. Venezuela’s government closed all crossings a year ago to try to stem smuggling along the 1,378-mile border. 

Officials alleged that speculators were causing shortages in Venezuela by buying up subsidized food and gasoline and taking them to Colombia, where they could be sold for far higher prices.

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