Real Hunger Games: This Country Is Sliding into a Socialist Black Hole

CUCUTA, Colombia -- Civil unrest in Venezuela is mounting as the country continues its slide into a socialist black hole.

Low oil prices and rampant corruption combine to cause acute shortages of almost everything. The nation's capital, Caracas, is now the most violent city in the world, with more murders last year in this one city than in all the countries of the European Union put together.

Reports are surfacing from around the country of people hunting dogs, cats and pigeons for food, and demonstrations are cropping up to protest the harsh conditions.

Scrambling for Necessities

On the country's western border with Colombia sits Cucuta, a city of 600,000. Almost a year ago, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed the border with Colombia after an attack by alleged Colombian paramilitaries.

But the severe shortages are changing that. The people are defying the border closures en masse, with up to 100,000 people crossing this bridge into Cucuta in the space of one weekend.

Thousands of people streamed back across the border into San Antonio, Venezuela, after coming across into Colombia to buy things that they just can't get in Venezuela any longer.

They're trying to buy things like toilet paper, toothpaste, rice, sugar and other simple, everyday items. But people say the stores on the Colombia side of the border are empty, and the people are going hungry.

Raul Pineda, a Venezuelan father of three, had to skip meals in order to be able to feed his children.

"There's no medicine, very little food. The food the country produces isn't enough for everyone," Pinada said.

Several months ago Pineda escaped Venezuela and brought his family to Colombia. He says he had to pay a bribe to cross the closed border, and the rest of his family had to stay behind.

Worthless Money

But the situation isn't much better for Venezuelan refugees once they arrive in Colombia. Jobs are so scarce that many turn to prostitution or crime. Those who bring money with them find that it doesn't last long.

"One month's pay only covers about two days of food," Pineda said.

This brings to light a bigger problem. Many Venezuelans cry for joy when they see fully stocked shelves in Colombia, only to cry again when they find out how little their money will buy.

Marlenis Peña's grocery store sits only a few hundred meters from the border crossing. She's doing a very brisk business.

"The people don't really know how little their money will buy here. So they fill their carts and when they come to the register they find out they only have enough for the essentials," Peña said.

The money changers along the border say Venezuelan bolivars are nearly worthless. In 2012, they were worth about 25 cents apiece. But today, one U.S. dollar will buy almost 900 bolivars.

As hyperinflation sets in, experts are predicting 1,600 percent inflation next year, which means a U.S. dollar could buy as many as 90,000 bolivars.

Hoping for Help

Local churches are stepping in to help with care packages and even provide housing for their neighbors who are in need.

In the meantime, Colombia and Venezuela are in talks to reopen the border crossing as a humanitarian corridor on a more permanent basis.

Pineda is thankful for the assistance.

"At first it was a little difficult but thanks to God and to the church that helped us to be able to live here," he told CBN News. " Well, here we are."