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By law, the hospital must treat every patient regardless of #immigration status. Most are fleeing hunger, political repression and economic collapse in #Venezuela, a crisis that has deepened as President #Nicolás #Maduro has cemented his authoritarian rule.
CÚCUTA, #Colombia - The emergency room of Hospital Erasmo Meoz, just miles from the Colombia-Venezuela border, heaves with patients.
Stretchers squeeze through narrow gaps. Dozens of Venezuelan migrants pack the hallways, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the floors.
IV tubing crosses the room, and bandaged feet rest on wheelchair steps, while fans push the humid air — failing to clear the smell of sweat and desperation.
By law, the hospital must treat every patient regardless of #immigration status. Most are fleeing hunger, political repression and economic collapse in #Venezuela, a crisis that has deepened as President #Nicolás #Maduro has cemented his authoritarian rule.
Local officials and #migrants fear that any escalation could trigger a humanitarian emergency on a region already stretched to the limit.
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