BOGOTA — Colombia’s government has opened its first shelter for Venezuelans who are pouring across the border in ever-larger numbers to escape their nation’s economic crisis. The bare-bones shelter opened Saturday near the border city of Cucuta will provide shelter of up to 48 hours for 120 people a day. Cucuta has been overwhelmed in recent weeks by an increasingly large exodus of Venezuelans. Last week, authorities deported 130 Venezuelans who entered the country illegally and were sleeping outdoors on a basketball court in Cucuta. President Juan Manuel Santos is expected to travel Thursday to Cucuta to review contingency plans for the burgeoning humanitarian crisis.

Source: National Post February 04, 2018 01:18 UTC