Venezuela crisis: 5 things you need to know about Maduro, Guaidó and mass exodus

By Brandon Showalter, Opinion writer and social commentator Saturday, March 16, 2019

Venezuelans take part in a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro on March 9, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. Opposition leader and self appointed interim President Juan Guaidó summoned Venezuelan's to take the streets and demand the resignation of President Maduro. Images in Ave Victoria Caracas. | Getty/Edilzon Gamez

Venezuela continues to be submerged in political chaos as Nicolas Maduro clings to power.

President Trump an other world leaders recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the nation's rightful president in January, but the situation remains dire as Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez after his death in 2013, continues to maintain enough military, government and public support to fight for control of the country.

Maduro's policies have led to hyperinflation, starvation, and the mass exodus of millions of Venezuelans, but he accuses the United States of sabotaging him.

What has been called the "Maduro diet" refers to the condition of the average Venezuelan who reported losing an average of 24 pounds in 2017 due to malnutrition and food shortages. Conditions have only worsened and in addition to mass starvation, the country is plagued with brutal violence and power outages that have turned deadly.

Here are five things you need to know about the ongoing turmoil in Venezuela.