Effects of half-million city population exodus

Maracaibo was once a thriving metropolis in Venezuela’s oil country, but now it is a shadow of its former self. The city is filled with abandoned houses, overgrown yards, and lonely residents left behind by the exodus of nearly 8 million people from Venezuela due to economic hardship and political repression.

Many working adults have left their children behind with grandparents as they search for better opportunities elsewhere. The collapse of the economy, routine blackouts, and shortages have left Maracaibo in a state of despair.

With another wave of departures expected soon, the city is bracing for further challenges. The absence of doctors, nurses, and essential workers has created a dire situation, with older people left to fend for themselves in a city that has lost its vibrant past.

Despite the hardships, some residents, like Edith Luzardo and Xiomara Ortega, have decided to leave Maracaibo in search of a better life, even facing treacherous journeys through the Darién Gap.