이것은 피난민들의 모습이 아니다. 이건 최악의 인플레이션으로 극심한 식량난에 시달리고 있는 베네수엘라 국민들이 국경을 넘는 장면이다.
18일(현지시간) 엘 나시오날 등 현지언론과 AP 통신 등 외신에 따르면 베네수엘라 정부는 16∼17일 콜롬비아와의 국경지대인 산 안토니오 델 타치라의 시몬 볼리바르 다리 등 국경 2곳을 한시적으로 개방했다.
이에 따라 이틀 동안 12만3천여 명의 베네수엘라인이 콜롬비아의 국경도시 쿠쿠타로 건너가 식품과 휴지를 비롯한 각종 생필품을 대거 사들인 후 되돌아왔다. 국경으로부터 10시간 걸리는 지역에서 전세버스를 타고 인파에 합류한 사람들도 있었다.
콜롬비아 정부는 국경이 열린 첫날인 16일 3만5천여 명, 17일에는 8만8천여 명의 베네수엘라인들이 국경을 넘은 것으로 추산하고 있다.
베네수엘라 당국은 일부 국민이 보조금이 적용돼 시중가격보다 싼 식품과 휘발유 등을 콜롬비아로 밀수하는 것을 막기 위해 작년 8월부터 2천219㎞에 달하는 콜롬비아 국경을 차단했다.
그러나 굶주린 여성 500여 명이 최근 국경 경비를 뚫고 콜롬비아로 넘어가자 니콜라스 마두로 대통령은 베네수엘라 타치라와 콜롬비아 쿠쿠타 간 국경을 잇는 도보용 다리를 지난 10일 12시간 동안 한시 개방했다.
베네수엘라는 유가폭락과 정부의 외환통제 정책, 최악의 인플레이션으로 극심한 식량, 생필품 부족에 시달리고 있다.
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA woman and a child use plastic bags to take cover from the rain as they cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping, in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople line up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA young woman carries toilet paper as she crosses the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping while a Colombian police officer looks on in Cucuta, Colombia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersWomen buy food staples at a local shop at the Colombian-Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersColombian street vendor (L) sells his products at the Colombian-Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA woman push a pram with a baby and bags as she crosses the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping, in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA Colombian police officer gives direction to people lining up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople line up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA Colombian police officer looks on as people line up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA woman holds up a Venezuelan flag as people line up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA man carries a child as people line up to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople walk to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople arrive in San Antonio to cross over the Simon Bolivar international bridge to Colombia to take advantage of the temporary border opening in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA man push a trolley with toilet paper and other goods as he walks towards the Colombian-Venezuelan border after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople are seen carrying bags and packages as they cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA man push a trolley with goods next to other carrying a speaker as they walk towards the Colombian-Venezuelan border after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersColombian police officers help people to carry bags as they cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople are carrying bags as they walk towards the Colombian-Venezuelan border after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersPeople buy daily necessities at the local shop by the Colombian-Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA man push a bicycle with goods as he walks towards the Colombian-Venezuelan border after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez
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Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / ReutersA man carrying a bag gives a gesture to a Colombian soldier as she cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge after shopping in Cucuta, Colombia, July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez