Venezuela to get South American help for food crisis
Foreign ministers from 12 South American nations gathering in Caracas have promised to help Venezuela overcome an ongoing shortage of food, medicine and other products, the BBC reported.
The regional Unasur bloc agreed with President Nicolas Maduro to provide items that have gone missing from many Venezuelan supermarkets.
The shortage of staples has contributed to popular discontent.
Unasur highlighted the importance of safeguarding democratic stability.
"The idea is to get all the countries to support the distribution of staples," said Ernesto Samper, Secretary-General of Unasur (Union of South American Nations).
"We will work together with the Venezuelan authorities to strengthen the distribution networks in our countries so they help Venezuela," said Mr Samper.
He criticised recent anti-government protests in Venezuela that descended into violence.
The opposition must "express its opinions in a democratic, peaceful and lawful manner," said Mr Samper.