Solidarity delegates see Venezuela's 'Missions'

International delegates to the Venezuela solidarity conference in Caracas saw how the government keeps the poor fed in the face of economic warfare on Monday.

The international guests visited a Local Distribution and Production Committee (CLAP) warehouse at the sprawling Bolivarian National Armed Forces base at Fort Tiuna in Caracas, to see first hand the packing of food parcels for needy families.

Soldiers filled sacks with an assortment of staple foods including rice, beans, pasta, flour, powdered milk, oil peanut butter, mayonnaise, and tins of tuna – many of them produced by state enterprises.

Under the government's Mission Mercal programme, each family receives one food package per month. Each sack is marked: "pay no more than 10,000 bolivars" – a few US dollars at unofficial exchange rates.

Earlier the visitors got a warm welcome from residents of a huge housing estate adjoining the base christened Tiuna City.

Chinese, Russian and Belarusian firms are still building dozens of high-rise blocks of flats along with schools, sports grounds and other facilities.

The government has built almost 1.75 million homes since 2011 – many supplied furnished – benefiting 6.8 million people. Its target is 3 million by 2019.

The 'Barrio Tricolor' mission has also renovated almost 500,000 delapidated homes in the last four years.

The delegates also toured garment and bottled water factories on the site, a joint venture between the army and private enterprise.

The firm's civilian director said the plants had exemplary working conditions and health and safety standards – yet are still profitable concerns.

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