Sism in Venezuela: Vulnerability of the Portuguese worsened

“In the Anjos Lusitanos program, we had [before the earthquake] 706 people who helped directly, but after the earthquake, only in the state of La Guaira, we estimated that additionally between 300 and 400 Portuguese need help,” he says.

Francisco Soares points out that the humanitarian crisis was already a reality in Venezuela, but it increased and worsened with the earthquake, insisting that in the post-terrake the recovery of the Portuguese community “will be more difficult now”.

“ The crisis has existed since before the earthquake, with much of our vulnerable community, many elderly people and people alone in need of help. The community, in particular Madeira, was badly affected by the economic crisis and now many have lost their trades, homes and need help. The earthquake not only worsened the situation, it increased the number of people [needed]. What was wrong, now is worse”, he says.

It also insists that the needs, in addition to food and health care, are also economic support, conditions that guarantee quality of life and monitoring.

“Our community is getting older, being alone and needs the support of everyone, including those living in Portugal, in order to contain the economic clash of the earthquake. Venezuela has been bad for many years and that is no secret to anyone, but now the situation has worsened further. Now there are many people alone, who also need a phone call, to feel accompanied ", says.

On the other hand, the president of the Luso-venezuelan Center of Cátia La Mar, the state of La Guaira, the region most affected by the June double earthquake, explains to Lusa that three months later “the environment among the Portuguese community [local] remains of solidarity,” but “people are still psychologically traumatized by what happened”.

“From Portugal help has arrived that we have distributed locally, together with the Queens of Benefit. But the state is still helpless, the situation is still desolating. As much as we have given them food aid, we are still in a desolate situation,” says Eusébio Sousa.

The person responsible explains that he has traveled the affected areas and found “a terrible situation, unrecognizable locations”.

“ Although it has been three months, we are still in a constant struggle because we have entered the demolition phase that is very painful for those who have lost everything. And the Portuguese community of La Guaira was one of the most affected. It is mainly about many Madeirans who have settled here”, he says.

Eusébio Sousa needs the Luso-venezuelan Centre of Cátia La Mar to do a survey of the affected compatriots to try to reach them.

“ The consulate has held consular stays and has supported us, but we need much more. It's really hard living, especially at the psychological level. After the earthquakes, many people tried to end their lives, because they do not see a way out, nor an immediate solution to their problems,” he says.

The responsible also explains that this phase “forces people to adapt to the reality caused by earthquakes and to live with the means they have to survive”.

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.