The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela "is not the result of chance or of adverse fate". Rather, it is the result of wrong political choices and a senseless use of natural resources, so they stated during the conference.
While focussing on pastoral action, Salesian bishops, Jonny Eduardo Reyes, apostolic vicar of Puerto Ayacucho, and Pablo Gonzalez, bishop of Guasdalito, took part in the meeting and gave an account of what they have seen thus far and of the solidarity initiatives undertaken with their communities. Projects aiming at the immediate rescue of those who ask for food aid (such as the "ollas solidales", the soup kitchens with which the parishes manage to distribute a hot meal once a week) and the work of information to those who tend towards emigration from the country (there are already 3 million Venezuelans who have fled abroad).
From the testimony of the prelates emerged the image of a daily life made of hardship throughout Venezuela. With the exception of a 15% who enjoys economic privileges and political protections, most Venezuelans have to deal with misery and employ all sorts of expedient measures needed just to get to the end of the day.
The devaluation of the currency and inflation have make paper waste of the bolivar, with the result that in shops there is nothing left: the few food products that farmers do produce take the road to the more convenient Colombian market. The same happens with petrol, despite the wealth of Venezuelan oil wells. The effects are similar to those of a war.
The two prelates have chosen to remain in Venezuela alongside their people and have openly deplored the media manipulation that completely distorts the reality of the situation, so as not to admit the failure of the ideological choices that have dragged the country into the abyss.
More information on: www.missionidonbosco.org
