LA GUAIRA – An extensive line of people formed this Tuesday in front of trucks loaded with food and supplies in the Venezuelan state of La Guaira, while hundreds of victims waited to receive part of the humanitarian aid sent by the United States and distributed by a non-governmental organization.
Washington leads the sending of international assistance after the earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that shook northern Venezuela on June 24. According to the official balance, the earthquakes have left more than 4,700 dead and nearly 21,000 people continue to live in camps after losing their homes. In the affected areas, complaints persist about insufficient government assistance.
The American organization Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) distributes food, hygiene items and other essential supplies to the victims.
Its director for Latin America, Luis Velázquez, assured that the organization has provided aid to some 40,000 families since the beginning of the emergency.
Help arrives by sea
On this occasion, the assistance was transported in amphibious vehicles that landed on a beach in La Guaira after being transferred from a ship anchored in the Caribbean Sea.
The shipments included rice, canned food and personal hygiene products, which were distributed among dozens of families affected by the earthquakes.
“Donate food, basic necessities and personal hygiene items (…) We are going to maintain this for five years,” said Velázquez.
American presence in the affected area
The presence of US military, ships and aircraft in the affected areas is visible.
GEM also reported that it plans to participate in housing reconstruction projects for families who lost their homes due to the disaster.
The arrival of a truck with supplies was greeted with applause from several residents.
“Receiving help from the hand of God and from our president Donald Trump, because he has helped us a lot,” said Duvis Fonseca, a 57-year-old cook.
For her part, Angélica Izaguirre, who said that her family lost their main source of income after the earthquakes, described US assistance as “a blessing.”
“I receive it with sadness, even if it is a blessing from God,” he said, referring to the lack of help from the Venezuelan regime.
