Victims of earthquakes appreciate Portuguese support, but needs persist

“ Help has arrived and there are no words to thank the Portuguese people. It has been extremely inspiring to see how people of other nationalities have mobilised, from the heart, to help my country, to help those who need it most,” says a volunteer to the Lusa agency.

Barbara Clisanchez, paramedic and volunteer of the “Vuela Venezuela” foundation (Voa Venezuela), recalls that the local situation “has been extremely tragic, that some have lost everything, including relatives”.

From the victims, he hears “true stories, very, very sad”.

“And, seeing how the Portuguese people mobilized to make themselves feel and help themselves in the way possible, and bringing these aids to us, is touching. He teaches us that we are not alone, that we are all ‘only one’,” he says, stressing that the help of Portugal gives “hope, encouragement, and shows the affected people that they are not alone”.

Clisanchez also explains that after three months of the double earthquake, he has also heard history that are an example of resilience, in La Guaira, the most affected state in the country.

“They are very resilient and grateful and it inspires us. We arrive, we know what happened, the difficulties that live”, but still they are “with the spirit of the ‘guarians’, of people always willing to help, and that despite their difficulties and needs they always have a smile and say ‘thank you’,” he says.

However, the volunteers also note “a void and the despair of those who think they still have much to face”.

“ But they're nice. And I have seen people who have gone through a lot asking what they can do or how they can help us and that is also inspiring for us,” he says.

Clistanchez warns that three months after the double earthquake on the ground, the tragedy remains latent with homes destroyed, homeless families, communities without basic services and many needs.

“ We deliver kits of personal hygiene and non-perishable food to the most vulnerable communities, but there will always be need for more help because it is not enough to meet all the needs that exist,” he says.

It also needs that “Vuela Venezuela” has organized medical care missions for children and adults during which they also deliver medicines and monitor people in vulnerable situations, so that they know “that they are not alone and have a huge network of people who support them”.

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.

After the earthquake, the Portuguese government supported Venezuela and the Venezuelan and Portuguese-venezuelan population mainly with emergency humanitarian aid, financial support for social entities and strengthened the consular presence of community support.

The aid included two ambulances, debris removal tools and search and rescue support. The Joint National Operational Force (FOCON) was mobilized for emergency operations and the Air Force transported part of the goods.

There were also two important drug donations: one of eight tons and one of three tons, including antibiotics, analgesics, antipyretics and drugs for chronic diseases.

On the other hand, the Associação Amigos da Diaspora and the emigrants Madeirenses (AADEM) coordinated the dispatch of 10 containers containing 240 tons of food, medicines, medical products and personal hygiene collected by civil society in Portugal.

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.