The most negative place I have ever known.

Barrios in Caracas, Venezuela.

The city of Caracas has grown enormously in the last 40 years, attracting people from all over South America, filling its narrow valley and climbing up the steep sides of the surrounding hills. These new districts, known as “barrios” or “ranchos,” which is the equivalent of “slums” or “Ghettos.”  These areas are home to more than fifty percent of the 3.8 million inhabitants of Caracas. As in São Paulo or Bogota, whole streets are controlled by private militias that have created war zones. Everyday hundreds of people are killed from gunshots from fighting between gangs as well as stray bullets.  Fighting between gangs occurs at anytime, during daytime or nighttime. The gangs have no regard for children or innocent bystanders. In fact, I personally lost my favorite aunt just five months ago on the 1^st of January at 12:05 am.  She was killed by a stray bullet, which is very common during festivities in these Barrios. The neighborhood thugs typically shoot bullets into the without regard for other people, causing danger without limits.

My aunt used to work at the local hospital in the heart of on the most dangerous Barrio in Caracas as a nurse. She was always was willing to help people in this poor area. Ironically she was killed by one of these people.

These barrios, in my opinion, are the most negative place imaginable. There are bad people always waiting for any opportunity to rob or kill without any regret.  Criminals are everywhere. Poverty is evidently at every corner along with alcohol and drugs. Children and teenagers are forced to act like adults to survive.  They use profane language, smoke cigarettes and carry guns.   There is nothing more similar to hell as a barrio in Caracas.