The mayor of Cúcuta, César Rojas, has set the alert for the situation that the city is living, after the failed attempt to enter humanitarian aid to Venezuela through the border crossings.

Rojas has made several calls to the National Government to take a look at the problems brought about by the closure of the border, and has complained that President Iván Duque has not spoken with him to analyze the situation after the Venezuela Aid Live concert. and of the so-called 23 F, when the self-proclaimed president of that country, Juan Guaidó, tried to enter around 280 tons of food, but he was prevented by the Venezuelan police, controlled by Nicolás Maduro.

According to Rojas, after what happened, the city was left with great problems. One of them, that about 9 thousand children are still unable to attend schools because many of them are crossing the border. He also assured that a large number of patients can not be treated.

The situation has affected both merchants and informal sellers. According to Rojas, the city has around 800 thousand people unemployed as a result of the increase in the migration crisis in Venezuela.

The former Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, of Cucuta origin, maintains that Cúcuta also suffers from the crisis in Venezuela: the quality of life has deteriorated, unemployment has increased, but he says that this has worsened, not only since last 23rd. February, but since Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself interim president of that country. "I think it's bottoming out"

The uncertainty, the people who cross the border by the trails, the confrontations of the citizens with the Bolivarian National Guard, distance any possibility of investment in the city. For that reason it is necessary to open a minimum of dialogue because this situation does a lot of damage to both Venezuelans and Colombians.

The former minister said that, regardless of the international policy of President Ivan Duque, he should think about a plan of shock for Cúcuta, which allows the population to recover from the effects of the rupture of relations with the Government of Nicolás Maduro.

He added that this was done on the occasions when there were border closures like in 2015 when the border remained closed for about a year.

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Alternative roads are still the only option

Uncertainty, fear and tension is what is still lived in the different border points of Colombia with Venezuela in Cúcuta, after the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, took the decision to break diplomatic relations between both countries.

The breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries keeps the borders closed on the Venezuelan side and with restrictions on mobility by the Colombian. For this reason citizens can not cross from one nation to another, which has caused many of them have chosen to cross illegally through the almost 40 trails. Meanwhile, violent clashes continue between the Bolivarian National Guard and hoods that claim to be Venezuelans who want to get to their country to reunite with their families or spend their meals.

However, members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces continue to pass through the different border points. According to Migración Colombia, there are 567 members who have deserted amid applause from those who remain around the border crossings. Come, come, come, the citizens shout to the Venezuelan guard to get them to escape and recognize, Juan Guaidó as interim president of that country.

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@raquel.ramirezv