AP Explains: Cucuta, Colombia _ The gateway into Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is moving ahead with plans to try to bring in humanitarian aid through the Colombian border city of Cucuta, where the U.S. government will transport and store food and medical supplies destined for Venezuela.

The Venezuelan opposition has said that once the aid is stockpiled in Cucuta, it will try to move it into Venezuela, defying Nicolas Maduro's government, which has refused offers of aid from the U.S. and other Western nations.

The move will be a test for Venezuela's military, which is deployed on the Venezuelan side of the border crossing and will have to choose whether to obey Maduro's orders, or allow the much-needed supplies into the country.

A Venezuelan man carries a crate filled with bread back to his country, in La Parada, on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. More than a dozen European Union countries endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the county's interim president on Monday, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and clear the way for a new presidential election. (AP PhotoFernando Vergara)

WHY CUCUTA?

The city of 630,000 is the busiest border crossing between both countries. Each day around 50,000 people enter Colombia through Cucuta, mostly Venezuelans in search of food, medicine and medical treatment that is not available to them at home.

Many are also leaving Venezuela for good. According to the United Nations, 5,000 Venezuelans leave their country each day to escape the economic crisis. Some 3 million Venezuelans have left since 2015, with 1.2 million settling in Colombia. Other popular destinations include Peru, Ecuador and Chile.

A Venezuelan woman returns to her country after buying groceries in La Parada, on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. More than a dozen European Union countries endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the county's interim president on Monday, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and clear the way for a new presidential election. (AP PhotoFernando Vergara)

WHAT DOES THE BORDER LOOK LIKE?

In 2015 Maduro shut down the border between both countries, claiming that it was being used by criminal gangs to smuggle price-controlled gasoline and food out of Venezuela.

The border was re-opened a year later, but only to foot traffic. Today thousands of people enter Cucuta by walking across two bridges connecting the two countries. Those without proper documentation to enter Colombia use clandestine trails and wade across a river that marks the border. Some of those trails are believed to be controlled by smugglers and heavily armed criminal organizations, including the National Liberation Army, a Colombian guerrilla group.

Venezuelan migrants stand in line for lunch at "Amigos Del Projimo" migrant shelter, in La Parada, on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. More than a dozen European Union countries endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the county's interim president on Monday, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and clear the way for a new presidential election. (AP PhotoFernando Vergara)

WHAT IS ON THE VENEZUELAN SIDE?

There are two small towns on the Venezuelan side of the border, San Antonio and Urena, as well as the city of San Cristobal, population 600,000, about an hour's drive away. Hospitals there have reported they are desperately short on medical supplies and San Cristobal could be one of the first places where aid is directed, if it gets through.

HOW COULD AID BE SENT THROUGH?

The opposition has provided few details on how it plans to transport aid into Venezuela, but the most likely transit point is the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, which is guarded by Venezuelan and Colombian troops.

Several aid groups already run operations in Cucuta, including the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, UNHCR and the World Food Program. None of these groups has so far expressed interest in participating in the planned aid operation.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — When Indiana met Oregon in October, the game served as the best test yet of whether the Hoosiers were a one-year wonder or a program that was here to stay.

They met that challenge with a double-digit win that snapped Oregon's 18-game home winning streak. Next week comes a rematch with a trip to the national title game at stake.

A pair of Big Ten blowouts in Thursday's quarterfinals — Indiana 38, Alabama 3 and Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0 — set up Oregon-Indiana, Part 2 in the national semifinals at the Peach Bowl next Friday.

“Why would it be too big for them? Because the name's ‘Indiana?’” Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti said after his team passed its latest big-time test and also became the first of seven teams with first-round byes in the two-year history of the playoff to win their quarterfinal.

The other semifinal will feature Miami against the winner of Thursday's late game — Ole Miss vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

The top-seeded Hoosiers (14-0) opened as a four-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, in their rematch with No. 5 Oregon (13-1). The Ducks closed as 7.5-point favorites in the October meeting that Indiana won 30-20. This blowout win over the Crimson Tide might have been Indiana's most impressive performance since the win at Oregon.

In that one, Ducks defensive back Brandon Finney, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Texas Tech, returned an interception for a touchdown to tie the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter. But Indiana answered with a touchdown drive, an interception and a field goal for a double-digit win over the previous season's Big Ten champion.

The most intriguing matchup in this game isn't hard to find.

Quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza of Indiana Dante Moore of Oregon are projected as the top two picks on many 2026 draft boards. Mendoza is trying to join a rarified list of quarterbacks (among them, Jameis Winston, Cam Newton and Matt Leinart) who have won the Heisman and the national title in the same season.

“It's going to be a great matchup, and all respect to them,” Mendoza said of the Ducks. “I've got to get the game plan and got to get to watching film now.”

Oregon is coming off a defensive domination of Texas Tech. The Ducks created four turnovers that led to 13 points. Moore, meanwhile, was held in relative check, throwing for 234 yards and no scores.

“We go back look at this game, say ‘What did we do really well?’” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Let's go to the doctor, let's figure out what kind of medicine we have to take for the next game. I think that's always the best indicator of what you have to do when you start to analyze what you have in front of you.”

The 10th-seeded Hurricanes, who beat Ohio State on New Year's Eve, will be in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday, with the tantalizing prospect of 'Canes QB Carson Beck going against the team he left after last season, the Bulldogs.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, right, is hugged by former NFL player Michael Irvin following the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)