CNA Staff, Jun 8, 2020 / 23:10 pm
June 5 marks three years since the Diocese of Cúcuta, Colombia opened its Divine Providence House of Transit in response to the thousands of Venezuelan migrants streaming into Colombia.
In those three years, the charitable ministry has provided more than 3.5 million meals to needy people fleeing the economic, political and social crisis in Venezuela.
In a June 5 statement, the diocese said the Transit House "is a work of charity that arose from the desire to help our brother migrants from Venezuela and Colombians returning home" due to the crisis in Venezuela. The ministry is located just a few blocks from the bridge and highway that join the two countries.
Since Nicolas Maduro succeeded Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela in 2013, the country has been marred by violence and social upheaval. Under the socialist government, the country has seen hyperinflation and severe shortages of food, medicine, and other necessities, and millions have emigrated.