Venezuela: Dozens of reporters stranded in Colombia

Venezuela: Dozens of reporters stranded in Colombia

Reporters covering delivery of humanitarian aid expect to return home, waiting for Venezuela to reopen border crossing

By Andreina Itriago

CARACAS, Venezuela (AA) - Dozens of reporters have been stranded in Colombia after a border gate with Venezuela was closed nearly a week ago, a local press union reported.

Around 50 reporters working for media outlets in Venezuela were in Colombia on an assignment to cover the arrival of U.S. humanitarian aid in Cucuta, now waiting for the reopening of the border gate, said Venezuela’s National Union of Workers of the Press.

Only a handful of the journalists have been able to make home so far.

Venezuelan journalist Isayen Herrera with her two colleagues, who tried to return to Caracas by crossing the Simon Bolivar bridge that connects Venezuela and Colombia, had to travel to Bogota and then took a plane to the capital Caracas.

Herrera had no problem doing that because she had the backing of an international media and she entered the Colombian territory with her passport, not with a Border Mobility Card (TMF) like other 7 journalists and a photojournalist did.

Only one reporter, who entered Colombia with a TMF, managed to return home taking an early flight after facing a border closure alert on Sunday.

The others were not that lucky. They had to reach Venezuelan soil on foot by crossing the Tachira river at the border which was dried.

Among the group of journalists who have returned to Venezuela, one was five months pregnant, an Anadolu Agency correspondent at the scene reported.

Those who are still waiting for the reopening of the border crossing are hoping to return to Venezuelan territory soon, the Anadolu Agency correspondent said.

Venezuela ordered the temporary closure of the country’s border with Colombia late Friday, to prevent the U.S. humanitarian aid entering the country.

At least four people were killed and 200 others injured Saturday during anti-government protests in Venezuela. Fifty-one people were also arrested as they clashed with security forces at the Colombian border.

The protesters were calling for the government to open borders and allow aid into Venezuela.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions escalated when Juan Guaido, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

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