Venezuela possesses the largest oil reserves in the world, yet its future is shaky and obscure as hyperinflation, negative economic growth, violent and deadly protests, and absence of medical supplies and food plague the citizens of Venezuela. Imports have decreased an astonishing 60% since 2012 while oil export income dropped 40% in 2015. In December 2016, the inflation rate rose exponentially to 800%.

The acute scarcity of basic goods, food, and medicine have stripped the citizens of their natural rights at an unprecedented level. Among the economic perils, citizens of Venezuela are in the midst of a major political crisis. The Venezuelan government continues to completely deny the humanitarian crisis under their negligent governing as president Nicolás Maduro made a power grab Sunday, August 20th. The Venezuelan parliament approved a law ushering unchallenged power to Maduro allowing him to rule by decree. The ruling by decree is a style of governance used mainly by dictators, absolute monarchs, and military leaders allowing quick laws to be implemented without objection.

U.S senior officials labeled Nicolás Maduro as a dictator after he proved his actions were continuous patterns ruled by a selfish hand rather than a benevolent one. According to National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, “Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator.” Sanctions against 13 individuals associated with the Venezuelan government have been made and Maduro’s assets under U.S jurisdiction have been frozen.

The United States is not the sole country opposed to the undemocratic events taking place in South America. Peru and Argentina refuse to recognize the outcome of the election of 545 seats in the new Constituent Assembly. These elected officials, allegedly relentless supporters of Maduro, will have the power to dissolve the National assembly and rewrite the constitution despite an overwhelming majority of 70% of Venezuelans opposing the new creation of the Constitution.

Maduro refuses to listen to his people's pleas as he seeks absolute power. The illegitimate election prompts the U.S to take action against the political and economic crises and halt Maduro’s dictatorial governing of a country in complete turmoil.

The complications in the country have severely altered life for the people of Venezuela and action must be taken to promptly and rightly solve the humanitarian crisis in a place where children feel hunger, parents despair, the sick hopeless, and the activists oppressed.