The Bishop of the Diocese of Cucuta in Colombia, His Exc. Mgr. Víctor
Manuel Ochoa Cadavid, urged the state authorities to provide
humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people, remembering that Venezuela
faces a severe economic crisis and this is why many Venezuelans seek to
provide for their basic needs in Colombia.Mgr. Ochoa stressed: "We have celebrated the Year of mercy and God calls his children to help others, to give them a hand, and our region must help their brothers and sisters in Venezuela".
The statements made to Radio Caracol for Christmas, highlighted that in his diocese there is the support of all the churches, which is pursuing initiatives to help solve "social problems affecting the city of Cúcuta and the metropolitan area".
"Every day we see an increase in the flow of people who live in horrible conditions, and this affects us all. It is true that a democratic solution in the neighboring country (Venezuela) is necessary, but for now what we can do is provide humanitarian aid to these people in difficulty", concluded the Bishop.
Cucuta, on the border with Venezuela, is a city of 742,689 inhabitants of Colombia, capital of the department of Norte de Santander, in the north-east of the country.
On many occasions (see Fides 03/09/2015 and 12/05/2016), the Bishops of Cucuta (Colombia) and San Cristobal (Venezuela), respectively Mgr. Ochoa Cadavid and Mgr. Moronta Rodríguez, urged the relevant authorities to resolve the crisis affecting Venezuelans as quickly as possible.