Massive food imports arrive in Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago

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A box with basic foodstuffs is pictured in one of the food distribution centers called CLAP (Local Committees for Supply and Production), which are headed by community leaders, in the poor neighbourhood of 23 de Enero, in Caracas, on June 4, 2016. Shortages of basic goods have fueled looting, violent crime and vigilante justice. At least 94 looting sprees broke out in the first four months of the year, according to the Venezuelan Observatory for Social Conflict. Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves, has been hit hard by the collapse in global crude prices over the past two years. The economy is forecast to contract eight percent this year, with inflation of 700 percent. / AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT
A box with basic foodstuffs is pictured in one of the food distribution centers called CLAP (Local Committees for Supply and Production), which are headed by community leaders, in the poor neighbourhood of 23 de Enero, in Caracas, on June 4, 2016.
Shortages of basic goods have fueled looting, violent crime and vigilante justice. At least 94 looting sprees broke out in the first four months of the year, according to the Venezuelan Observatory for Social Conflict. Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves, has been hit hard by the collapse in global crude prices over the past two years. The economy is forecast to contract eight percent this year, with inflation of 700 percent. / AFP PHOTO / 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (AFP) — Trinidad and Tobago sent approximately 68 tonnes of food and commodities to crisis-hit Venezuela Thursday, with hundreds more tonnes set to arrive in the coming days, a Venezuelan official said.

Venezuela, which is enduring severe shortages of food and other basic commodities, will receive 600 tonnes of goods from Trinidad and Tobago under a trade agreement.

The embattled South American country is grappling with an economic crisis prompted by the plunge in prices for its crucial oil exports.

The country’s opposition is meanwhile seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office with a referendum he is resisting.

Maduro’s critics blame his economic management for the country’s woes and denounces the jailing of his political opponents.

Two Venezuelan military aircraft made two trips Thursday carrying chicken, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, mayonnaise and toilet paper to the country.

Venezuela’s deputy minister of domestic trade, Renier Urbaez, oversaw the shipment.

The goods were flown from Trinidad and Tobago’s Piarco International Airport to nearby Sucre state in northern Venezuela, he said.

The Venezuelan government will transport approximately 170 more tonnes of food in the next three days, while the rest will be sent to other states by sea beginning next week.

The goods will be sold at subsidized prices through a state-owned company, Urbaez said.

The country’s food crisis erupted into deadly looting last week.

At least five people were killed and more than 400 arrested, the authorities said.

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