VOICED : Miles de venezolanos cruzan a Colombia en busca de alimentos

On a Sunday, many Venezuelans crossed the border into Colombia to buy food and medicine, taking advantage of a temporary opening after 11 months of closure. Long lines formed early at the Venezuelan customs to cross the 700 meters to Cúcuta, Colombia. People sought essentials like cookies, tomato sauce, grains, sugar, and rice amid uncertainty. The border was forced open by 500 Venezuelan women earlier, breaking a military cordon to buy basic goods. The closure was initially ordered by President Nicolás Maduro in August 2015 after an attack by alleged Colombian paramilitaries. Recently, defense ministers from both countries resumed talks about security and possibly reopening the 2,200-kilometer border.

Why were Venezuelans crossing the border into Colombia?

• To visit family members

• To buy food and medicine

• To seek employment opportunities

• To attend a cultural festival

What was the main reason for the long queues at the border?

• A new shopping mall opening

• A concert by a famous artist

• The temporary opening of the border

• A sports event in Colombia

What did the Venezuelan people demand regarding the border?

• To increase military presence at the border

• To open the border permanently for supplies

• To allow free passage for trade

• To keep the border permanently closed

What event led to the closure of the border in August 2015?

• A natural disaster

• A trade agreement

• An attack by alleged Colombian paramilitaries

• A diplomatic meeting

What recent development occurred between the defense ministers of Venezuela and Colombia?

• They announced a new trade deal

• They launched a joint military exercise

• They discussed reopening the border

• They signed a peace treaty