First containers with help collected in Portugal arrive in La Guaira

A arrival was confirmed to the agency Lusa by Jesus Testa, spokesperson of Venexos, one of the associations involved in the operation, during the delivery of pallets to different local associations, an act that took place at the headquarters of the logistics company Almacenadora X7, in Maiquetía, La Guaira.

“ We expect to receive approximately 240 tons of food, medicines and toiletries, to be delivered and distributed, mostly, in the state of La Guaira, which is the area where the epicenter of earthquake occurred in Venezuela and where we have the largest number of people affected ", explained.

Jesus Testa, who is Ambassador of Goodwill of Venezuela, also explained that this is humanitarian aid that was collected in mainland Portugal and Madeira, in a joint effort of various organizations, which began as soon as the double earthquake occurred in June.

The initiative, he said, was made possible thanks to Venexos, the Associação Amigos da Diaspora e dos Emmigrantes Madeirenses (AADEM), the Diaspora Association in the World (ADNM), the Luso-latina Cooperative Huellatina, the Associação Venezuela Amiga, Venecom and the Luso-venezuelan Association – Alusven.

The aid already received was delivered to 13 local associations, including the Society of Benefits of Portuguese Ladies, the Home of the Old Age Father Joaquim Ferreira, the Geriatric Home of Maracay, the “Regala Una Sonrisa” (Offers a smile), the Pilgrims of El Junquito, Venexos, the Health Consultation (Saúde), and the Charity Aid.

On September 7, the Associação Amigos da Diaspora and the emigrants Madeirenses (AADEM) announced that it planned to distribute the Portuguese-venezuelaians affected by the double earthquake of August, in the coming weeks, 240 tons of humanitarian aid raised in Portugal.

The announcement was made to Lusa by the president of AADEM, Moisés Rodrigues, who was in Caracas to deal with the process of clearing the aid and verify the capacity of local Portuguese associations to receive it.

According to Moisés Rodrigues, “in total, there are 10 containers, seven out of Lisbon and three out of the Port of Leixões, with a total load of 240 tons” of humanitarian aid collected by civil society in Portugal, by Venezuelans and Portuguese descendants.

“ In these containers we have food, medicines, medical supplies, from masks, gloves, gowns, surgical equipment, diapers for babies and adults, and personal use items”, he said, stressing that the fundraising was done knowing that the delivery would take some time to get to Venezuela, because the shipping would be by sea due to international logistics issues.

In the meantime, contacts have been made with associations in the cities of Los Teques and Valencia, in addition to Caritas Valencia and Caritas Caracas, which will receive the second shipment of humanitarian aid.

“ In this first phase, the organizations already contacted will receive between 10 and 15 pallets each and, therefore, it was important to determine the installed capacity of each of them ", highlighted Rodrigues.

The double earthquake of June 24 caused serious damage to infrastructure, wounded and fatalities in seven states of Venezuela: Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Lara, Yaracuy and La Guaira, the latter the most affected.

According to the latest updated review released by the authorities, 6,509 people died and 226,696 injured were assisted in Venezuelan hospitals after earthquakes.

Among the fatalities, there are at least 138 Portuguese and Portuguese.