Some 3.7 million people have left Venezuela, including 3 million since 2015 as the economy has imploded causing widespread shortages and hunger, and anti-government street protests have brought waves of violence and deaths. Venezuelans continue to leave at the rate of 3,000 to 5,000 a day, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said, giving updated guidance on how to handle the exodus. “UNHCR ... now considers that the majority of those fleeing the country are in need of international refugee protection,” agency spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a news briefing. The UN children’s agency said that deteriorating conditions inside Venezuela had left vulnerable children with limited access to health, education, protection and nutrition services. Dozens of nations around the world now recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president, saying President Nicolas Maduro rigged a 2018 election and is behaving like a dictator.

Source: bd News24 May 21, 2019 12:00 UTC