Which countries have pledged aid to Venezuela after powerful earthquakes?
Countries in the Americas and beyond are sending aid, medical supplies and paramedics to Venezuela. After two devastating earthquakes on Wednesday roiled Venezuela, causing deaths
Countries in the Americas and beyond are sending aid, medical supplies and paramedics to Venezuela. After two devastating earthquakes on Wednesday roiled Venezuela, causing deaths and destruction, rescue efforts and humanitarian aid have been dispatched from all over the world. Countries from across the Americas – including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba and the United States – as well as the United Nations, were sending search and rescue teams and humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the quakes. Authorities have raised their estimate of the death toll to 235 people. “To the Venezuelan people, to those whose loved ones are under the rubble, know that we are determined that help gets to you,” said the United Nations’ aid chief, Tom Fletcher. UN-certified rescuers will help search for survivors, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised message. How much damage have the earthquakes in Venezuela caused? A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, the strongest since 1900, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Authorities said on Friday that 235 people were confirmed to have been killed, with 4,300 more injured. Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s national assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, said that 200 people had been trapped, with 250 buildings damaged or destroyed nationwide. “Venezuela was already in a very difficult situation” before the quakes, with frequent power outages and public services in “shambles”, said Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota in neighbouring Colombia. “Many hospitals were already operating under capacity… They simply don’t have all of the engineers and doctors that are needed.” Which countries in the Americas are assisting Venezuela?
Leaders in the Americas have announced that they are providing support to Venezuela. The United States The US, which in January carried out a military operation culminating in the abduction of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, has pledged what it called a “whole-of-government response”, which includes plans to deploy warships, transport planes and helicopters, as well as to mobilise $150m in aid. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the response would be “big… fast and… effective”. Brazil Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the dispatch of a field hospital, as well as dozens of firefighters and other support personnel. “We will send Friday morning a humanitarian search and urban rescue mission in a KC-390 plane,” Lula said on X, adding 36 firefighters and eight other specialists on risk assessment and telecommunications will be on board. “With them, we are sending nine tonnes of equipment to help.” “On Saturday, we will send another flight with equipment to assemble an open hospital, 100 water purifiers moved by solar panels, medication and medical supplies for surgeries,” the Brazilian president added. El Salvador El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said he had readied 300 rescuers and paramedics, and 50 tonnes of equipment, medicines and basic supplies. Cuba Cuban health workers were already “fully mobilised and providing medical services to the affected population”, said Havana’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Mexico Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was dispatching a military team of rescuers and medical personnel and would send further assistance if necessary. Colombia Colombia, which also felt the quakes, will send more than 60 rescuers and 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid to its neighbour, its disaster management agency said.
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