Venezuela leans on military to combat food shortages

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Venezuela leans on military to combat food shortages

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ and JOSHUA GOODMAN
Jul. 12, 2016 12:48 PM EDT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's defense minister is getting a major promotion as the socialist-run country struggles to combat severe shortages and stave off food riots.

President Nicolas Maduro on Monday night said he was creating a new government initiative to boost production and guarantee the smooth distribution of food supplies in the face of what he called economic sabotage by his opponents. He said the Great Mission of Sovereign Supply will be headed by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who will coordinate the work of every ministry. Among its goals will be to wean oil-dependent Venezuela off foreign food imports and jumpstart agricultural production that has suffered for years under price controls.

Maduro said he was acting under the authority of an economic emergency decree he declared earlier this year. As food shortages have worsened this year, Maduro has leaned more on the military and community groups of government supporters to organize food distribution and ease the blocks-long lines that are a focal point for spontaneous unrest and bouts of looting when hungry shoppers are turned away. He's also tried to tighten a rationing system that gives Venezuelans access to staples only on certain days.

But it's not clear if the strategy is working.

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Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/859e512436084777922e3ac61680b20d/venezuela-leans-military-combat-food-shortages

[COLGATE4]

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