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Venezuelan couple in Corpus Christi raising awareness about humanitarian crisis

The couple said families are undergoing a severe shortage of food and medicine and are having a tough time getting the essential nutrition needed.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A couple from Venezuela who now live in Corpus Christi are among those who are keeping a watchful eye on the situation in South America.

Tensions are rising in Venezuela as the opposition leader recognized as the country's interim president, Juan Guido, along with armed troops make a major push to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office.

Maduro is calling it an attempted coup.

Jesus Gomez came to the U.S. from Venezuela 22 years ago. He and his wife are hoping to not only raise awareness about the ongoing unrest but also the humanitarian crisis that is happening there.

"My hope is that this will be quick, as painless as possible," Gomez said. "We know the government is capable to do whatever. They are violent. They don't care about the people."

The couple is part of a group of Venezuelans who now live in Corpus Christi and are doing what they can to get information out to others -- specifically about the need to help the children in the country.

The couple said families are undergoing a severe shortage of food and medicine and are having a tough time getting the essential nutrition needed.

"Everyone needs help. We need medicine. In this moment we are focusing on the children. Most important, children are dying," said Valentina Cisneros-Acosta, who is helping to raise awareness.

"In the hospitals they don't have the formula or supplies," Gomez said. "We cannot afford to have kids starving in the hospital or as my wife said, in a mom's arms, because they don't have any food."

A meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday night at the Nuevo Cafe on Ayers Street to discuss an upcoming donation drive that will happen May 9. They will be asking for things like baby formula to help children.

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