Heartbreaking image of newborn babies kept in cardboard boxes in Venezuela hospital

Newborn babies are being kept in cardboard boxes due to Venezuela's healthcare crisis. Heartbreaking images were posted online by Mesa de la Unidad Democratica today showing dozens of tiny infants lined up in makeshift cots. 

Each is wrapped in a blanket in half a cardboard box with their medical notes sellotaped to the front on a piece of paper.

The party captioned the photos: "So the world knows: In our neonatal units at the Dr Domingo Guzman Lander hospital they are being kept in cardboard boxes due to a lack of incubators. 20 Sept"

Authorities are now investigating the images, which have not been independently verified.

"We in no way justify the actions taken," Venezuelan Social Security Institute President Carlos Rotondaro said on Twitter.

He also defended the country's healthcare system, writing: "Our hospitals take care of hundreds of patients, despite what some media are hiding. We recognize the failures and continue."

The government hospital system later tweeted what officials said were current photos and a video showing plastic hospital incubators in the nursery.

The hospital has delivered more than 4,000 babies since January.

Venezuela is struggling economically, with many struggling to get hold of basic goods and medical supplies amid regular electricity blackouts.

Heartbreaking image of newborn babies kept in cardboard boxes in Venezuela hospital