Can Things Get Any More Desparate In Venezuela?

Venezuelans have been told expired passports are valid for another two years because they have run out of paper and ink to print new ones.

President Maduro has signed an emergency decree to extend their validity because of chronic shortages at the national passport agency.

At least a million Venezuelans have been waiting months for new documents and cannot travel in the interim.  Demand for travel documents is at a record high as Venezuelans seek to escape from political crisis and deep recession.  Critics had claimed that  delays in replacing passports stemmed from Maduro's desire to keep people from leaving the beleaguered nation

Since global oil prices plunged in 2015, Venezuela hasn’t had the funds to import basic goods such as food and medicine, creating acute shortages and stirring anger toward Maduro.   Inflation is at about 700 per cent.

Adding to the overall misery are a drastic rise in violent crime – especially in the capital city of Caracas – rolling blackouts and widespread and often times bloody protests against the government.

There have been casualties and deaths on both sides of the protests and accusations from the international community of human rights abuses and political oppression.