Venezuelans Throng Grocery Stores Under Military Protection
Shoppers thronged grocery stores across Caracas today as deepening shortages led the government to put Venezuelas food distribution under military protection.
Long lines, some stretching for blocks, formed outside grocery stores in the South American countrys capital as residents search for scarce basic items such as detergent and chicken.
Ive visited six stores already today looking for detergent -- I cant find it anywhere, said Lisbeth Elsa, a 27-year-old janitor, waiting in line outside a supermarket in eastern Caracas. Were wearing our dirty clothes again because we cant find it. At this point Ill buy whatever I can find.
President Nicolas Maduro last week vowed to implement an economic counter-offensive to steer the country out of recession, including an overhaul of the foreign exchange system. He has yet to provide details. While the main government-controlled exchange sets a rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar, the black market rate is as much as 187 per dollar.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-09/venezuelans-throng-grocery-stores-on-military-protection-order.html