Venezuela: What's Behind the Shortages?

If You Watch One Thing

Role of the Private Sector

Critics of the Venezuelan government have repeatedly accused it of failing to take measures to deal with shortages, but an investigation by teleSUR reveals that the private sector may have siphoned off up to US$259 billion from state coffers by taking advantage of different exchange rates and failing to produce the goods they claimed they would. READ MORE

Living with the Shortages

teleSUR correspondent Iain Bruce investigates how everyday Venezuelans are coping with the food shortages, hour-long lines and currency speculation. For some it has helped build solidarity and led to innovative community projects. For others, it is a daily strain caused by the "economic mismanagement" of the government. READ MORE

Behind the Food Lines

The opposition argues the Bolivarian government allowed domestic production to collapse and relied too much on imports. Now it has less dollars to import with, that problem has turned into a crisis. But the situation is much more complex. It involves import scams, smuggling and bachaqueos. READ MORE

Venezuela's Hospitals in Crisis?

Shortages of solutions have been one of the main arguments of Venezuela's opposition, and the various professional medical associations aligned with it, for declaring a health emergency in the country and seeking international aid. But is this the case? teleSUR correspondent Iain Bruce investigates. READ MORE

Is Infant Mortality on the Rise?

teleSUR correspondent Iain Bruce visits the Concepcion Palacios Maternity Hospital to examine claims of carnage in the country's maternity hospitals. Are new-born babies dying unnecessarily in Venezuela? READ MORE

Impact on Venezuelan Women

Women have played an important role in the course of the Bolivarian revolution. Now the overriding concern is the difficulty in getting hold of key items of food. And on the ground, it is again women like Milagros who are leading the search for solutions. READ MORE