Vladimir Garcia, 56, poses for a picture at the Mother Teresa of Calcutta eating center in Caracas March 19, 2014. Vladimir, who lives with his brother, used to work as an administrative assistant and studied history in college. He has been having meals at the eating center for over five years, as he has no money and enjoys the food provided. The Mother Teresa of Calcutta eating center, located in a back-street of Caracas, is frequented by people who are unemployed and homeless, as well as those who work but are unable to make ends meet. Shortages of basic products have become the norm in Venezuela over the last year and workers at soup kitchens for the homeless and hungry face an ever-more difficult task in finding the staple foods they need to provide a free hot daily meal. Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro’s government say the queues are a national embarrassment and symbol of failed socialist economics similar to the old Soviet Union. But officials say businessmen are deliberately hoarding products as part of an “economic war” against him. Picture taken March 19, 2014. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins (VENEZUELA – Tags: POLITICS FOOD SOCIETY POVERTY)
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