Hi, everyone
This is my entry to @zord189's #1Photo1Story contest . See details here.

My photograph is probably not a nice sight to see, but it is one I see every day, everywhere I go. I have previously posted about Venezuela's economic and social crisis and shown similar images of the extreme poverty some people are experiencing.

I wish I did not have to show this because this is not the country I grew up in, and this is certainly not the country I wish for my children.

This one was taken some weeks ago at Av. Blanco Fombona. I walk down this street almost every day to get some potable water and every day there is someone different digging up in the trash, even fighting with dogs for whatever food or "valuable" they can find.

This image summarizes the story of how one of the richest countries in Latin America and the world became the poorest in just 20 years, without a war (civil or otherwise), without a devastating natural disaster, only thanks to socialism/communism and the ambition and cruelty of local resentful politicians and the support of authoritarian international powers.

It is hard to look at your children's eyes and explain to them how these people, who were just like us some years ago, became this; and harder yet to guarantee them that we will not become one of them.

Other Photos, same story

Covid-19 only worsened an already tragic situation. With all the restrictions (closing of the public market, for instance), more and more people have been forced into abject poverty. I have seen them eat even the little fish from the sewage. I would not be surprised if they are already eating the stray cats and dogs that some months ago were populating the streets after people were forced to abandon them for lack of food. There were not institutions taking care of the homeless and sick, even though they exist on the paper. Now that the priorities have shifted, it is even more difficult that these people will get any attention or assistance.

Some have now gone totally insane

But others are young and sane.They've just started taking the desperate measures desperate times call for.

_{Av Miranda}

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you never have to see this in your countries.