The situation in many Hispanic/Latino countries is very depressing, some conflicts stick out more than others, for example the news that you have posted. To live in fear of losing your life or the lives of your family members on a daily basis is horrible, it truly is, I may not know how it feels but my cousin who works in Mexico City may know how it feels being that whenever I call her up you can hear gun shots or yelling in the background. My father also felt a lot of heat in Cuba under Fidel because of his beliefs, but what I am trying to get at is that your friend is not alone in the sense of having to worry for the lives of her family and also she can count on the support of other Hispanic/Latino people because, in a way, we all suffer together.
I'm not really acquainted with the specific situation in Venezuela, but I do know that the situation with the demonstrations and protest, peaceful or not, generally end in bloodshed. The government is under a lot of pressure down there so when the government is in pressure, than the people must be at their boiling point.
I would also like to applaud their effort to save the Orinoco Crocodile, being that Venezuela is taking the lead in such rescue. (I know its a bit irrelevant, but just end on a better note)