Thread by @vlad_hernandez_

In 2016 when I walked through a market in Caracas, Venezuela people yelled,
"Tell the people the truth! There is no food!"

Here's my report from then:
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

Now, two years later, I see that there's still vast food shortages in Venezuela, and in the West of the country continuous power cuts means that meat at markets are often rotten and ridden with flies.

Hyperinflation means that the annual inflation rate could end up as 1,000,000% by the end of this year (source IMF).

That's had a devastating effect on day to day life of Venezuelans.

Earlier this year a cup of coffee in Venezuela would cost me what I paid for a whole flat a decade ago. Today, it's far worse.
bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-…

Maria has had to find everything for her operation, including drugs for the doctors, needles and gloves. She is facing recovery without electricity.

*TRIGGER WARNING*

And then there are Venezuela's morgues. Lack of electricity means they are struggling to keep bodies refrigerated.

So how has it got to this stage?

Many would say this is a result of mismanagement of Venezuela's vast oil reserves.

The government insists that it's to do with 2017 US-led sanctions.

But I've seen that there have been shortages here for over a decade
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/…

To see the full story of my time in Venezuela please check out my report:

https://twitter.com/vlad_hernandez_/status/1051974641110196224

Reporting the Venezuelan crisis can lead to arrest by the security forces. The government rarely grants access. I admire the courage of Venezuelan journalists who stay to report on the deteriorating situation.