Over 75 percent of Venezuelans are now living in extreme poverty, according to a new study published on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The 2020-2021 National Survey of Living Conditions found that the percentage of Venezuelans living in extreme poverty rose by nearly 10 percentage points from last year, the wire service noted, from 67.7 percent last year to 76.6 percent this year.
Among the factors contributing to such dramatic poverty include fuel shortages, COVID-19 and not enough job opportunities.
"It is the absence of opportunities," Pedro Luis Espana, sociologist from Andres Bello Catholic University who worked on the report, told Reuters.
The administration of President Nicolas Maduro has pointed the blame on U.S. sanctions for the reasoning behind the country’s predicament.
However, the U.S. has also continued to give financial assistance to the country, including a recent contribution of $336 million in humanitarian and economic assistance.
According to the State Department, the U.S. has given over $1.9 billion in financial assistance to the country since 2017. »
