The most vulnerable in Venezuela remain in the dark after the blackout: "We have never experienced this crisis"

The light still does not arrive at Elizabeth Guzman's house and thousands of her poor neighbors in a forgotten corner of the Venezuelan capital. who barely survived even before a power failure broke out more than a week ago.

When the sun goes down every day, Guzmán, 72, lights a homemade oil lamp and holds it in one hand while walking down the stairs and narrow corridors to the windowless room that he calls his "cave".

"I've never experienced this crisis, it's the first time" said Guzmán, who is malnourished and fragile. "That makes me sad."

Venezuela's power grid broke down on March 7 plunge almost all of the nation's 30 million people into chaos. Many had trouble calling their family and friends with their mobile phone, the Caracas underground train remained stationary, hospital services were paralyzed and mbadive looting was reported in various parts of the country.

Nicolás Maduro blamed the power outage for a US-orchestrated cyberattack against the Guri hydropower complex. cornerstone of the Venezuelan electrical system. American officials and Juan Guaidó, the president in charge of the country, they considered this argument absurd and denounced the fact that the socialist government looted public funds for yearsresulting in a collapse of critical infrastructure.

Although electrical service has been restored in most of Venezuela, the inhabitants of the poor neighborhood of Santa Cruz del Este, located on a hill in Caracas, they say they are losing hope of having light.

Following a second explosion in a sub-station near the neighborhood, the sewers jumped into the air and the electrical machinery burned slowly for days.

Boring, the inhabitants see the darkness as a symbol of their misery.

Guzmán, whose health problems and age prevent her from working as a cleaning lady, says that he left a neighborhood near Santa Cruz del Este last year after the 43 year old house caught fire due to an electrical problem.

Now cWhenever he turns on his oil lamp, he fears to repeat the day he has virtually lost everything.

A recent night, Guzmán held a candle to illuminate the photographs of his two sons and grandchildren. He had already disconnected his microwave oven, toaster and television to prevent a shock from setting off another fire.

"I tell you sincerely: I can not hope this will be appropriate"he said with a smile. "Never. "

The meager government pension of Guzmán is equivalent to six dollars a month, with what he manages to pay the rent, which equals 66 cents.

But finding and paying for food is a daily struggle. Its weight has dropped from 65 kg to less than 45 kg in the last two years, and stated that his doctor had diagnosed malnutrition. She also suffers from painful hernias and can not afford the medication needed to control her high blood pressure. She feels sometimes depressed.

Towards evening, we hear songs from the nearby church of Casa de la Misericordia, where the silhouettes of the badistants could be appreciated in the light of the sun.

Other residents held lanterns while two men were carrying barrels of water by a multi-story staircase to a house.

"Look how poor people live", said Charles Belisario, who said he and his wife would use the water to wash and clean themselves.

Belisario, 49, She said that she was able to survive better than her neighbors because her daughter sends money that she has earned through her medical research work in New Jersey.

In the distance, one could see two modern illuminated skyscrapers.

Dilia Rosa Gelis, 74 years old, he says that he is firm in his faith, but it is difficult for him to face the harsh reality.

Her daughter is asleep without eating, which gives her headaches, said Gelis the next morning.

"If God created us, why does he make us suffer?he asked, wiping his tears.

Guzmán, like Gelis, also raised difficult questions.

He said he was detached from the political debate over whether Guaidó had the means to overthrow Maduro., and focuses instead on meeting their basic needs.

"We do not have water, we have no light, as you can see, it's a cave where I am, I'm desperate", he said.

(By SCOTT SMITH, Associated press)