Off the wire
• China Exclusive: Head scientists pair up for disputed 'Frankenstein' surgery'  • Many staff at U.S. theater shooter's university aware of his plan beforehand  • 4 militants, trooper killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight  • Urgent: Boat with 100 people aboard capsizes off Malaysian coast  • S.Korea's national income reduce first in 4.5 years on low growth  • US Open results (updated)  • China's crude steel output continues to fall  • Giant panda Kai Kai keeps caretakers in Singapore on toes over possible pregnancy  • "Terminator Genisys" dominates China's box office  • Rain to sweep China in next three days  
You are here: 　 Home

Colombia decrees state of economic emergency in border city with Venezuela

Xinhua, September 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday decreed a state of economic emergency for Cucuta city, the country's largest border city with Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government had partially closed its border with Colombia and started massive deportations of Colombians.

Santos said the economic emergency was announced because of the huge economic impact the border closure caused and "in order to take further measures needed."

"It is like a natural disaster but created by humans, a humanitarian disaster created by humans," Santos said referring to the human rights violations of around 1,100 Colombians who have been expelled from the neighboring country.

The two countries' border crisis erupted on Aug. 19 when three Venezuelan army officers were wounded by suspected paramilitary gunmen operating in Colombia, which led to the closure of a major border crossing ordered by Venezuela.

Venezuela has deported nearly 1,100 Colombians, including 300 minors, since the border closure. Both countries have also recalled their respective ambassador on Aug. 27.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said on Wednesday that a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ra'ad Zeid Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, and Director of the International Organization for Migration William Lacy Swing will be held Monday and Tuesday.

Huilguin also said that the government will meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon next Wednesday to show the humanitarian situation. Endit