Desaguadero, the ghost town that created the crisis in Peru

Drain, a Bolivian city on the border with Peru, is now completely empty due to the closure of the border due to protests in the Andean country. Not a tourist, not an open trade, restaurants and lodgings are empty. Usually the city thrives on commerce, but nowadays it almost is a ghost town

“We passed illegally. As there are many conflicts in Peru, all sections are closed. And people enter because there is no mobility to enter. We were a bit amazed by this place it’s a bit desolate there is no business or anything else,” comments a tourist from Peru, in Desaguadero.

Since January 4, there is no other option to cross the border between Bolivia and Peru: you have to pass illegally. The migration offices on the Peruvian side are closed.

trespassing

The pedestrian bridge is completely blocked, explains Marysol, who has a hotel a few meters from the border crossing.

“They even put up a fence. They put up a metal fence. More before they were selling food to whoever is blocking on the other side. They were selling bread, they were selling food around here,” she says.

“Now the mayor has shut everything down because the president of Peru said so they are passing ammunition From now on, to avoid all this, they have preferred to close the bridges. We absolutely cannot go to the other side,” he adds.

Also, Peruvian protesters monitor the road bridge. “You have to talk, it’s nice to talk to them, explain to them what it’s like, we told them how we’re coming and they said ‘just come in’,” says Luz.

But not everyone made it like Luz. Blockers don’t let you through that easily. Mary tried: “I’m from Buenos Aires and I have to go to Peru, because I’m a resident there. I’ve come back from there, now, from the bridge. I wanted to pass and I could notDid you see?” he moans.

trucks stuck

Not only do people not pass, not even the goods.

Hipólito is a transporter and he’s been stuck here since January 5th: “The days are getting longer. Mostly for the food. But now it’s better to stay on this side, the situation on the other side is worse, ”she explains.

Hundreds and hundreds of trucks are stuck one after the other, waiting, like Hipólito, for the border to open.

It’s a whole city paralyzed. Usually everything is sold here, mostly smuggling. But now the streets are desperately empty.

“Fairs are in relapse. They work 10% on Fridays. Passengers, even tourist brothers, have always generated resources,” says René Luis Ticona Mamani, mayor of Desaguadero.

Drain now it looks like a ghost town. According to the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade, the economic losses due to the closure of the border are estimated at six million dollars a day.

By Alice Campaignolle, RFI