Thread by @arishapiro

Photographer @ryanjamescliff traveled 350 miles w me and producers @Matt_Ozug & @christinacala, on the path of "Los Caminantes," Venezuelans leaving their country on foot. To accompany our #LeavingVenezuela reporting, here's a thread w some of his images.
npr.org/2019/04/04/709…

Marta Alarcon's roadside stand has become a makeshift refuge for Venezuelans on the road. People write notes on bolivars, Venezuelan currency made worthless by hyperinflation. She hangs them from the ceiling of her shop like flags. #LeavingVenezuela

"I don't read them because it makes me too sad," Alarcon told me. "I say, let's talk about nice things. About how your life where you're going will be better." #LeavingVenezuela

The roads are steep, with almost no shoulder. Trucks barrel past. Many of the Venezuelans carry these government-issued school backpacks in the colors of the Venezuelan flag. Look closely at this man's feet. #LeavingVenezuela

Not a man. A boy. Walking barefoot, hundreds of miles. This is Reina Ballestero, who told me she has to keep going even though her feet are torn up, because her nephew in Venezuela has leukemia and she needs to earn money to send to him. #LeavingVenezuela

Temperatures in these mountain passes often drop below freezing. Many Venezuelans have only T-shirts, since it can be above 90 degrees at the border. #LeavingVenezuela

Aid organizations distribute reflective wristbands and anklets, trying to limit the reduce the number of people hit by cars on these narrow winding highways. #LeavingVenezuela

At first, mostly working-age men made this journey. Now it's young children, elderly people, even pregnant women. This family includes Mariu and Heboni Materano, whose voices you'll hear in our story. The father abandoned them. They have no milk for the baby. #LeavingVenezuela

100 miles from the Colombia-Venezuela border, the first big city is Bucaramanga. There are no shelters, so Venezuelans try to sleep in parks - if the police don't kick them out. #LeavingVenezuela

All along the way, we met Colombians and Venezuelans trying to help. Like Alba Pereira, who has started a foundation that gives food, medicine, and clothing to the caminantes. #LeavingVenezuela

More than a million Venezuelans have already moved to Colombia, and 5,000 more arrive every day. No one knows how much longer the country can sustain this. #LeavingVenezuela

To hear the voices of the people in this #LeavingVenezuela thread, click below.
Photos by @ryanjamescliff
Colombia producers @christinacala & @Matt_Ozug, DC producer @gringsam
Editing for radio by @selenasd, digital by @alexleff, visual by @emily_bogle npr.org/2019/04/04/709…

And in case you missed it, here's our other big story from the trip--about Venezuelans in Colombia who are growing impatient and want to oust Maduro by force.
npr.org/2019/03/29/707…