Venezuela partially reopens border with Colombia

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Europe

01:34

Venezuela on Saturday partially reopened its border with Colombia, nearly four months after President Nicolas Maduro's government closed to prevent what he called foreign invasion.

Venezuelan people have been seen joining long lines to cross into Colombia. Over a million Venezuelan migrants and refugees are living in Colombia, where the government and aid agencies have struggled to provide housing, food and healthcare to an ever-growing influx of migrants.

On Friday, Maduro said the government will partially open the border with Colombia. He had closed borders with Colombia, Brazil and Dutch Antilles islands as opposition leader Juan Guaido claimed he would bring in U.S.-backed aid.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a book titled "Mining Sectoral Plan" while delivering a speech during a launching of a National Mining Plan at the Miraflores palace in Caracas, Venezuela, June 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Last month, Maduro's government opened the border with Brazil and the island of Aruba.

Maduro said on Friday via Twitter that Colombia border crossings in the western state of Tachira would be open as of Saturday. “We are a people of peace who firmly defend our independence,” he wrote.

Maduro says Venezuela is victim of an “economic war” led by the opposition with the help of Washington, which has levied several rounds of sanctions against his government.

(With input from Reuters)

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