Life on the line: Inside Venezuela's crisis | Talk to Al Jazeera

From above, Caracas' skyline still hints at the opulence that once characterised oil-rich Venezuela, but at ground level there's no hiding today's reality: people are queuing all night for food and medicine; inflation is with over 700 percent the highest in the world; and murders and kidnappings are spiralling out of control.
Venezuelans who can, are fleeing their country, once a magnet for immigrants.
And with a political confrontation mounting steadily, many warn that the nation with one of the world's largest oil reserves is on the edge of an abyss.
Political violence against opponents of the populist government of President Nicolas Maduro is intensifying, but it's common crime which is terrifying most Venezuelans, no matter what their beliefs or social class.
Venezuela is now one of world's most dangerous countries, and its capital, Caracas, the city with one of the highest murder rates in the world, according to a recent study.
Violent crime is rampant and the police are unable to stop - or don't want to intervene - people from looting, or others from killing for a bag of food.
The looting of bakeries, pharmacies and especially supermarkets is spreading throughout the country. At long queues of people waiting to buy food, the army is deployed to maintain order.
Talk to Al Jazeera travels to the Venezuelan capital, where many airlines are now refusing to fly. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman speaks to five Venezuelans about life in the midst of the country's mounting turmoil.
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[@4riversgd]

So sad. Prayers going out for Venezuela.

[@Topself24]

It's crazy how you can have Internet but no food.

[@Gabiichanpleyades]

It's totally crazy, Internet cost 700 bolívares meanwhile rice cost 5000 bolívares...

[@GERAH717]

T Stanton plus the gas in Venezuela is very very cheap,

[@mannylugz5872]

Maybe the Venezuelans can start using their computers to print 3d food.

[@rahallivex]

And how a cup of coffee is 100000+ times more expensive than a tank full of gas.

[@ostapbendervan7874]

They f produce oil America purchase..see those furnace.see those tanks in yard?yeah Whats the DIFFERENCE btw GAS & OIL

[@wilson8013]

I need to start my own charity one day to fight against hunger, no man, woman, or child should have to go to sleep hungry at night. This is heart breaking

[@abc64pan]

Venezuela has been transformed into Cuba. Mission accomplished!

[@ConservativeAnthem]

Maybe if Hillary fails she can restart her political career there.

[@anastasia2657]

I think we're going to change to become Venezuela before she goes to Venezuela

[@samsonx1606]

It is not this bad in Cuba.

[@acamapichtli.raul.suppachok]

hahahaha

[@backtonature3464]

You err , Venezuela is not like Cuba in any way. it is worst.

[@greco2897]

Maduro is very intelligent, in the past he was a Bus driver.

[@dexboyhandle]

lol

[@caramelbilquees]

Greco It wasn't his fault it was Chavez he spent all the countries money on these schemes/ communist & socialist schemes

[@otiebrown9999]

Yes, now he is fat.

[@dieguismama2330]

This is heart breaking, my sister did her internship at Domingo Luciani, they were on lockdown after sundown because competing gang members would invade the ER to finish off their wounded enemies.

[@mrb435]

Wtf! That's terrible.

[@donnafield2616]

Wow! Thank you for sharing! Great presentation!!!

[@salesexecutive4HondaCavite]

PEACE..I hope they could find right solution for all of these crisis. God bless Venezuelans. Love from🇵🇭

[@shannonblackmon1345]

God Bless Them Beautiful innocent luving ppl over there,God Blessed Us All

[@cardonaedgardo]

The woman selling coffee on the street. I think that it would be great if she can leave the country. I pray that God would help her and her kids find a way out of Venezuela and migrate to either the United States and start her life over and the lives of her kids as well. Venezuela is just going to get worse. How Venezuela was when we were growing up, it will never be the same ever again.

[@kenricklongsong9999]

My heart does out for the people of Venezuela, but things will not always remain the same. relief id coming. God bless you.

[@cafeta]

I am venezuelan, I am an engineer with 9 year of experience and in venezuela I was earning 60$ a MONTH! but the price of a car is $14000 + 10 million BsF. (you need 1000 bsf for 1 USD)

[@pawhunter340]

ha 60 dollars is nothing I get 100 dollars a day lol

[@cafeta]

Paw Hunter the good thing is that I escaped the misery of venezuela, now I am earning like a normal human been. :) of curse of lost 10+ years of my productive life :(

[@pawhunter340]

+cafeta glad to you left that place

[@Fonzi79]

what country you living in now?

[@cafeta]

I am living in centro america, that's all I can say.

[@carlavelasquez2585]

Thank you so much, now people around the world can see what is going on here in this beautiful but destroyed country. For everyone out there: Venezuelans are amazing people, we are workers, honest, and kind and the most of us are good people that work really hard to get this country up, thank you for the support. Please pray for us. Bless to everyone of you. Again thank you! lots of love

[@papi55]

Back in the day this country used to be amazing>>> 1960's and 70's >> Folks from other parts of Latin American dreamt of living in Venezuela.

[@adrianamorales818]

It looks so crowded...who put these houses so close together...I don't see space to even grow stuff In,maybe that's what happened...kept voting people that crowded these people up til eventually thy had no room to breathe,and we know what happens when to many ppl are put together...

[@yirehmiyahmagsayo361]

Great video to documentary about this

[@corazoncubano5372]

It's incredible to see how the economic situation has changed in a relatively short period of a few years.

[@Jj-vd6es]

She should be afraid to walk across the street wearing a $2000 Burberry trench coat

[@Jj-vd6es]

+ASMinfise wow that Money should benefit the people.

[@way2gorule521]

+ASMinfise their government took their firearms in 2012

[@Fonzi79]

lol..that you know that..

[@corazoncubano5372]

I thought I was the only one to notice that. That coat is worth at least one or two weeks worth of dinner. Who goes into a poverty stricken country sporting expensive items.? WTH?

[@neverloosehope4233]

Where exactly do You see Chavez Daughter in this video? Sorry I didn't notice that watching this video on a very large LED flat TV.

[@Vijaykumar-bo5vr]

Hi i liked this video very much the doctor is treating the child in thr country its a phenomenial job that she is doing..

[@camilodiaz5058]

This is the same scenario of Chile pre coup times. The "bloqueo" imposed by US works, the crisis reaches such a climate of caos and desperation that people is forced to polarized; the good news is that the military personnel and police are Patriot soldiers, it's seems to be that they won't be sold to a foreign group of olygarchs that control the world economies, these soldiers mantain the balance of power, this situation should improve. Venezuela has other countries supporting its legitimate elected government.

[@rahallivex]

Al-Jazeera usually report quality news and make great documentaries, the only issue is that it's anti-india and anti-west.

[@anthonymanderson7671]

My prayers go to the Venezuelan people 🇿🇲❤🇻🇪🙏🏾

[@savvyissha6415]

I can't believe this is happening.shortage of food an extremely expensive to feed the families. This is beyond sad.This is a Tsunami the human's are living within their heart. I can not fathom thier crisis. I hope the government gets it together.

[@simpleman8055]

Venezuela needs to declare an emergency meeting with south and north American countries do an immediate trade oil for food medicine and medical supplies

[@devbachu7072]

so sad tears to NY eyes

[@acajudi100]

This is happening all over the world, so if I am helping, then why can"t you? God is watching us. Do the right thing. Hungry people will take what they need.

[@EMADKHAN479]

man I am way behind, I had no idea Venezuela was under such a critical crisis.

[@anggapratamasebayang648]

May God bless all Venezuelan

[@user-un7zh4kc1u]

I hope they will manage out of this.

[@way2gorule521]

I have and still will pray for your country

[@turowat]

I love this reporter...I've seen her reports before.

[@ConservativeAnthem]

Well, you better go hump her leg! lol

[@realdemocracy11]

Venezuela just completed it's 3 million homes for the poor target. UNESCO just announced that Venezuela has largely eradicated illiteracy . Saudi Arabia funds Al Jazeera. How's their human rights responsibilities going?

[@ellencasey5580]

My Aunt's Parents came from this area She was offered a coal mine in Spain and was offered a coal mine years ago when She was alive She turned it down to stay in the USA to raise her Children here. She made the right choice then. Her Parents and her would be very sad about this situation.Amen🙏🌹🌹🌹❤️🌹🌹🌹❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️🌹🌹🌹❤️🙏 Venezuela forever for the Beautiful People.❤️

[@barbaradallaire5668]

Not only rich in oil, but gold and diamond mines.....so what is the deal with them being broke, doesn't make sense.

[@thEundiying]

They spent, stole, and destroyed everything, out of pure selfisness and for political power. They ignored economy thinking oil was gonna keep them up forever, and just like cuba, they keep cutting down on personal freedom in the name of "socialism"

[@daoonh8981]

That's the problem with South American Nations. They are uneducated, which is why they keep voting in more socialist policies when ultimately, it leads to communism.

[@petramaier9153]

Socialism can make a desert run out of sand. This is nothing.

[@jll9697]

This is a humanitarian issue, bc I am sure that there are millions of people, especially children who have no real control over what has occurred. So we must practice some kind of mercy. We are humans and we all make mistakes but some things are forgivable and the people of Venezuela do not deserve to famish or die. I will do my best to help in any way possible.

[@jagrititiwari437]

God please help them😞

[@wendygentil4594]

Dios que triste

[@kevinc.4758]

Wow it's a terrible situation. Wonder how the world can help people of Venezuela. Has Venezuela government already reached out to UN or other countries for help? Seeing people suffering of not having food and medicine is very sad. Hope things get better soon. Let's pray for people of Venezuela.

[@1rafa2]

At least they have more income equality than the US.

[@thEundiying]

yeah, now even docs earn 30$ a month, just like a public worker. Its amazing.

[@heatherhillman1]

Really? What good is income equality if everyone is dirt poor? That's the agenda of the globalists.....not to bring the poor up, but to push the middle class down and keep everything for the elitists at the top. How is that fair to anyone?

[@schatzeeone6230]

As long as there is inequality in skill, education, effort and ambition, there will be income inequality in America. You’ll never rise above the bottom rung if all you do is whine about the people on the rungs above you. You’re responsible for your own success.

[@fazanmungroo3250]

feel it for Venezuela

[@Ninaburgos]

one country that rich on oil, how can children are suffering desnutrition, they have no food it is so sad I love Venezuela, I love everything how we were living in there now we are out , having life that really is not what we use to have we have better life in our country.

[@pnoysuede]

Don't CRY for me Venezuelllaaa...and so the song goes.

[@johnnydoughy9716]

Some of the translations are off. When they're talking about government they omit a few things she is saying.

[@meherkhandhadia9950]

Why cant other countries intervene and help Venezuela? It's so sad children going hungry and other problems. Sending prayers.

[@otiebrown9999]

Two years later. Has anything changed?

[@vishnooramdin8761]

It is so sad that that the country with the largest oil reserves and a once rich country fell in the worst crisis.they are our western neighbors of Guyana.

[@erwin643]

This isn't just a sad commentary of the Venezuelan government, but the people themselves (i.e., societal collapse). They're supposed to be close friends of Cuba, which survived the collapse of the Soviet Union through organic urban gardening and agriculture (popularized by the Peak Oil crowd: "How Cuba Survived Peak Oil"). Why isn't anyone there growing food by now? Police get no respect, yet there are no armed civilians (except criminals)? No civilian armed security? Even in Mexico they have vigilantes when crime gets this bad.

[@V.E.R.O.]

I wonder about that myself. I used to visit my cousin in El Salvador, she lived in the country side and while the land wasn't big enough to plant crops, she had lots of fruit trees and grew vegetables and edible plants, she also had chickens for eggs and turkeys. She would trade with her closest neighbor for fresh cow milk which she used to make cheese.

[@melitolustre990]

I think Venezuela love so much Maduro that they sacrifice themselves to be sick and hungry. While Maduro eat the most delicious food and drink the best tasting wine.

[@atila5402]

I feel so sorry for this people.

[@i_fuk_religion]

This is what happens when whole country is oil dependent and nothing else.

[@JD-yx7be]

Ankit Nagpal so taking land from local small businesses had nothing to do with it?

[@MasterMalrubius]

Taking the land and businesses is just secondary fallout. Socialism is about state/centralized planning. It is too slow to change which causes them to make economic mistakes. Depending on one industry to fuel your economy is just lazy thinking. But is about all the state-run economy could due. When prices were extremely high then things worked out. But prices fall and there goes all your social services. Then people get upset. So the state has to divert anger to private business. Since private business is affected by the failed economic model the state begins taking them over to try and continue providing goods. But that does not work as the underlying principles are destroyed. So it is just government creeping into everything in an attempted to fix the problem they created in the first place by trying to control everything.

[@ez4039]

It’s much more than that. Other oil dependent nations like Saudi Arabia are fine. Socialism is the root cause here.

[@JavierClaussell]

Imperialist greed is always the issue

[@ciel222]

VERY SAD

[@wendygentil4594]

venezuela..jamas pense esto

[@josephcryer7216]

Critical

[@ambititer6867]

Venezuela is exporting food ( news flash, basic food items are being hoarded and sold by corporations because they hate that they don't get what they want). Just watch empire files and you'll see that most supermarkets aren't actually empty, and food stuffs that aren't provided by corporations that hold a monopoly aren't scarce.

[@hankl8730]

70 bolivars for a cup of coffee?I looked up the currency rates, 1 usd = 10 Bolivars. 7 USD for a small cup of coffee? So they buy the coffee have no money left for food?

[@yessigabi12]

That exchange rate you mention is not quite it. The government has like 4 different exchange rates for food and medicines and such. Supposedly, merchants can use these "preferential" exchange rates (these go from like 10Bsf per dollar to like 500 Bsf per dollar, it changes a lot) to buy and bring raw material to produce BUT the government, which has all the control over the dollars, does not allow this. That is why everything, absolutely everything is done with the price of the black market which is 1000 Bsf for 1$, if you take into account that the minimum salary is 15.000 Bsf, it is the same as earning 15$ a month, and well, obviously that is not enough to live. Also, a cup of coffee isn't cheaper than 300-450 Bsf.

[@daoonh8981]

That better be Starbucks quality...

[@jimmynoonan6230]

bill Mitchell

[@eddemian]

From my days living in a socialist country, I recall having money, but the stores did not have the bread. The long lines were for bread deliveries, just in case.

[@ariues]

seeing "piso mojado" on signs in stores, i always thought piso meant wet lol. now clearly it means floor.

[@elmulipelmulip1106]

because they made a mad crazy guy chaves as president and followed him,support him.They deserved it!!!

[@r.thomassen6285]

I think the international community should help the Venezuelan people in one way or another. First of all with food and medications, but also try to help stabilize the situation and the economy. What is happening now is way too bad to be accepted. Things can get out of control in every country, so it can happen to us too one day. So where is the international solidarity in practice and not only in prayers?

[@NFtheend]

12:12 - 14:58 so he fought a gunman... over a phone.

[@reuventhehotboy]

Q bellas son las Venezolanas , una pena por su situacion , Dios quiera y vuelvan a ser libres pronto y q no sufran mas estas personas , Pa pante chamos! Q Dios me los bendiga y les devuelva la democracia.

[@Sammyduo214]

Come to my country you are welcome brothers and sisters

[@myplane150]

Wow. If only Chavez had listened to the world and invested in the oil infrastructure back when a barrel was 140 bucks. I remember reading in, I think, 2011 or '12 that Abu Dubai was so advanced that the country would make a profit at only $15 per barrel but Venezuela had to have it at $120 per due to the horrible condition of the infrastructure. Guess they never invested in new stuff. Paying for it now.

[@sjnagele]

welcome to the workers paradise. i guess they showed "the man"

[@tailu9719]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN.

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

This can happen here on US grounds!

[@davidtee2812]

Si se puede... ten cuidado de quien tu votar! Yes it can... be careful who you vote for!

[@shawnaune2466]

Venezuela made a huge bet on the price of oil staying above $100 per barrel. Any fool could see that the price was inflated by massive amounts of Central Bank Money Creation. That stopped and the price of oil (and the Venezuelan living standard) began its great fall.

[@9lifes979]

Coffee is the # 1 selling liquid in the world, so yes she can make lots more money.

[@V.E.R.O.]

Does Venezuela grow any food? Can people who own any land grow any vegetables, corn, etc? I haven't been able to find any detailed info as to why people are hungry other than "there's no food". I only see videos of people in the city, how are people in rural areas and the country side getting by?

[@shauncameron8390]

The government seized and now control the food and the production. This is the standard socialist tactic of using food as a weapon to feed its supporters and starve its opponents.

[@devbachu7072]

people, suffering daily my God

[@pipsantos6278]

Socialism - oh look, there's wealth out there. There, there, there. Let's distribute them among dependent clamoring mob. Distribution done, let's starve. Mission accomplished.

[@jaimelee6030]

Is there any way I can adopt a venezuelan child? If so I would like to know what are the steps I need to take to do so..

[@GamerBajan]

poor people :(

[@worthydailyhairart]

They are speaking two different languages...what an odd interview

[@johnanderson3369]

What can be done to bring your country economy back?

[@mariamendoncs6788]

Yeah the coffee lady looks like shes struggling alright......go take a trip to Manila and see if u dont have it made in the shade

[@psikogeek]

I support the economic war against Venezuela and am glad the US government is doing something right.

[@craighall2819]

Get up stand up

[@alexandermarshall9524]

Craig Hall if they buy guns from russia or america !! we will take a few to take them all!! this is our land!!! little apache bloods!!! like Argentina revolution there is some guns burried for your fight too!!! promise! i can almost thunk of it now!! sir.

[@alexandermarshall9524]

Craig Hall n.d.e. nations!! fireblood!!!!

[@alexandermarshall9524]

Craig Hall not like Argentina just a bush load of m.p.1 miniature assault rifeles !! ok??

[@alexandermarshall9524]

Craig Hall indeto!! back to framing and fighting the white man!! like our ancestors!! we will make them prouder than ever!!!!!!!

[@alexandermarshall9524]

Craig Hall we can get guns to defend our cattle graze!!!!!!!!! anay warriors out there?? apache blood Venezuela!!!!!

[@neverloosehope4233]

Stop the food shortage and then bring the Maduro government to the negotiating table about oil exploration rights.

[@michaelmcconnell3294]

The killer is that there are tens of thousand in America that want to follow this path.

[@michaelpryor2981]

The bottom line is that there are still millions of Venezuelans who believe in the revolution and the socialist system and these same people would vote to keep things the way they are and fight you if you came to help.. So in light of the 50% of people who would do violence to keep socialism in power, let them suffer; better they live this low existence then loose even one good person trying to help these fools....it just like Cuba....let them choke on it..

[@eldwdubu6968]

The reason they went to a socialist system was because the capitalist system only served a few rich and powerful, stripping the country of its wealth and exploiting the masses.

[@farmerdude3578]

I agree, it has to get worse before these people see that there government is not the answer. I just hope these losers don't come to the states looking to use there stupid beliefs on us.

[@tonya4787]

+el dwdubu lol that's what socialism does more than capitalism. Socialism takes away rights and the middle class. Socialism is always bigger goverment.

[@michaelpryor2981]

HEY FOOL, WHATS UP,I'M AN MBA OUTA SACRAMENTO STATE CENTER OF STUDY IS ACCOUNTING, FINANCE, BUSINESS. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY WHERE NEAR CLOSE TO SOCIALISM IN THE US. GET A CLUE FOOL...WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A MIXED ECONOMY NOT SOCIALISM.... LOOK UP MIXED ECONOMY AND MAYBE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. PROBABLY NOT....

[@michaelpryor2981]

NOT SOCIALISM FOOL NEVER IS NEVER WILL BE.....HEY GO ASK SOMEONE TO LOOK UP THE MEANING OF SOCIALISM FOR YOU AND TO PUT IT IN 8TH GRADE TERMS.....LOL CUZ IF THATA ALL YOU GOT THEN YOU GOT TROUBLE......THEN MAYBE YOU WILL SEE HOW NIEVE YOU ARE....GET A CLUE FOOL...JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THE BASIC ECONOMIC QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BY THE GOV. AND NOT IN THE MARKET PLACE DOESNT CONSTITUTE SOCIALISM........DID THAT GO OVER YOUR HEARD.....HEY STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW, WATER GOOD FIRE BAD.......

[@miguelsayol9433]

That coffee girl has a stolen phone ...... She sells coffee on the street and has an iphone 6 , its pretty common for poor people to have stooen phones

[@wolfy1987]

~Bans guns ~No armed security at your hotel ~Lots of gun crime

[@peterparker5848]

YOU SPOKE TO EVERYONE BUT MADURO!!!!!!!

[@joancggg]

Que desastre lo de Venezuela. Fuerza hermanos venezolanos ya les queda poco a estos abusadores incapacitados.

[@statenmh123]

u have to do what u have to do in life

[@tancymilligan]

its a sad choice to make when both governments are crappy

[@sidellesydney2192]

socialism is like a bad relationship. the guy starts off so nice in the beginning, showering you with gifts then the gifts stop. and you keep loving him holding on to the old memories hoping he would be the man you first met but he never is lmao

[@neverloosehope4233]

If I would lead any country I would concentrate all my efforts to supply Venezuelan people with food and same time negotiate about oil drilling rights.

[@jaminrasta2030]

why would want coffee if I'm hungry.

[@lukakostallas4576]

if you're in a huge line to get food, you'd want something to calm your nerves or something enjoyable

[@willyou8622]

they should give this journalist a green card, she's smart and attractive

[@josejonhson674]

I didn't know Al Jazeera worked for the US government.

[@jamesb.hallmd9899]

That driver guy has NO UNDERSTANDING of the problem. He is part of the problem too because the elder population is probably like him. Revolution or Civil War is the only way to destroy this evil government. Wish the Venezuelan people would grow HUGE cahunas and fight until death. If your cause is not significant enough to die for, then it is not significant enough to live for.

[@roseblue3797]

crazy

[@Junesal40]

bad people take advantage of bad situation.

[@neverloosehope4233]

Oil is better than Gold !

[@AndrzejLondyn]

In the US for selling coffee in such way you could go to a jail!

[@yushaevans8777]

hugo chavez great leader salute u from sri lanka

[@yushaevans8777]

best5345 who are u donkey?

[@lukakostallas4576]

Hugo Chavez wasn't a great leader. He rooted for the poor but at the end nothing changed and he left Maduro to destroy Venezuela. Chavez was a charismatic character, i won't deny that, but he wasn't a good president.

[@cogen651]

Can someone explained to me what happened. isnt this the government the people wanted?

[@lupedelgdillo3312]

Need to work the land ,food grows in the fields not in the streets .

[@jaddy540]

They complain about no chicken, but continue eating eggs. Put at least have the eggs in incubators, t5o produce more chickens and hens, to get more eggs. Jeez, you don't need to be a rocket engineer. And everyone should have something to eat growing, even if it is a tin pot full of soil. Those near the water could catch fish or harvest clams in the shoreline.

[@beatrizmartinez5760]

Look at Venezuela. It will happen in every country. It is written 😪