2017:
Anti-Government Rioters Attacked Maternity Hospitals, Burnt the Supreme Court
and the Housing Ministry, Burnt Buses, Burnt Warehouses of Food and Medicine
In May 2017 a
fire started by arsonists completely destroyed a General Medicine Warehouse
located in the state of Bolivar. The warehouse served as a collection center
for medicines and equipment regularly sent by the national government to
outpatient clinics.[1] In June a fire destroyed 50 tons of food in a
distribution center in Anzoategui state. The Ministry of Food stated that the
attackers set fire to the interior of the food warehouse, destroying a
stockpile of basic food items awaiting distribution. The attackers used
improvised incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails.[2] Between April
and June there were thirty attacks against the facilities of the Ministry of
Food.[4] In May in Bolivar state, 54 public-operated TransBolivar buses were
set on fire. [3]
The Supreme
Court Executive Office Building in Chacao was attacked and burnt four times in
70 days. On June 13, the Supreme Court and Housing Ministry in Chacao were
attacked and burnt:[5]
·
“Hundreds
of opposition supporters surrounded the building, which they proceeded to set
on fire with Molotovs and homemade explosive devices. Protesters broke into the
high court office and carried out pieces of furniture they subsequently burnt
in the streets.”
·
“Over
150 masked militants besieged Venezuela’s Housing Ministry with Molotov
cocktails and blunt objects. Opposition supporters destroyed the front gate and
reportedly caused damage to the public attention offices in the first two
levels of the building, leading the ministry’s employees to flee to higher
floors. Ultimately, 973 workers were evacuated from the building by
firefighters, including 45 children from the ministry’s nursery. Twenty-five
children received medical treatment.”
Opposition
rioters attacked the Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias Infant Maternity Hospital in
Caracas on April 20:[6]
·
“The
siege lasted three hours starting after 9PM.The groups gathered around the
hospital and barricades had to be set up in the emergency room to prevent them
from entering. Since they could not get in, they threw a shower of stones and
blunt objects at the facilities, and proceeded to set fire to garbage
barricades. The smoke from the barricades affected a woman who was giving birth
and seven children who were in the observation room, receiving treatment. They
had to be taken up to upper floors, sheltered in closed rooms to prevent the
toxic smoke from causing them more problems.”
The Carrizal
Maternity Hospital in Miranda state was attacked for two consecutive days in
May:[7]
·
“According
to the hospital’s director, smoke was entering the hospital from the barricades
of burning rubble erected just 50 meters from the building by protesters,
endangering the health of patients on the fourth floor. A 27-year-old pregnant
woman was evacuated along with three newborns who could not receive their
treatment for 36 hours due to the terrorist groups of the opposition.”
1. Alba Ciudad, Medicine warehouse in
Bolivar was destroyed after arson, May 14, 2017.
2. Venezuelanalysis,” Terrorists”
torch 50 tons of food as ex-National Guard Chief Indicted, June 30, 2017.
3. Venezuelanalysis, Right-Wing
Terrorism in Venezuela, May 31, 2017.
4. Alba Ciudad, Violent groups set
fire to 40 tons of food in Anzoategui, June 30, 2017.
5. Venezuelanalysis, Venezuelan
Supreme Court Torched as Jailed Opposition Leader Urges Coup, June 13,
2017.
6. Alba Ciudad, El Valle Maternity
and Children’s Hospital Back in Operation after Fierce Attack by Opposition
Groups, April 21, 2017.
7. Venezuelanalysis, Maternity Hospital Attacked in
Venezuela, Death Toll Rises to 53, May 19, 2017.
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