Venezuela has been facing a serious economic and political crisis for many years. It began under President Hugo Chávez and became much worse when Nicolás Maduro took over. The country suffered from super high inflation, many people went hungry, and there was a rise in disease, crime, and deaths. Sadly, this led to millions of Venezuelans leaving their homes to find a better life elsewhere. Experts say it's the worst economic crisis in Venezuela's history, even more severe than some other major global downturns.
The problems grew worse because of falling oil prices, which is a major source of income for Venezuela, and the government's refusal to properly manage the economy. The government also faced criticism for denying the crisis existed and for cracking down violently on anyone who disagreed with them. There were reports of thousands of extrajudicial killings by government forces, often targeting people involved in anti-government protests.
Many countries, including the US, imposed sanctions on Venezuela's officials and its oil industry due to human rights issues and corruption. These sanctions caused huge financial losses and further hurt the country's economy. The crisis deeply affected everyday life, with most Venezuelans struggling with poverty and not having enough money for basic food. Although some economic changes have eased food shortages and hyperinflation recently, inflation is still quite high, and there's a growing gap between the rich and the poor. In response to the crisis, many people started using US dollars instead of the local currency for daily transactions.
