Offers of aid pour in for Venezuela from across the Americas and beyond after its earthquake
Key takeaways
- Several countries announced the dispatch of rescue teams, while acting President Delcy Rodr guez thanked them for the shows of support.
- Among the South American neighbors, Brazil's President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva expressed his concern and dismay and instructed his Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Caracas to assess assistance measures.
- The United States, whose relationship with Caracas changed drastically after the capture of former president Nicol s Maduro in January, was among the first to react.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Governments from across the Americas and other regions of the world expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered assistance after the twin earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck the north-central part of the country on Wednesday and that, according to the first official toll, left at least 32 dead and more than 700 injured. Several countries announced the dispatch of rescue teams, while acting President Delcy Rodr guez thanked them for the shows of support.
Among the South American neighbors, Brazil's President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva expressed his concern and dismay and instructed his Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Caracas to assess assistance measures. Ecuador's leader, Daniel Noboa, ordered the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid and held that, despite our enormous differences, humanity must always guide a leader's actions. Uruguay's President Yamand Orsi made himself available to the Venezuelan government and activated his consular section to assist resident Uruguayans, while Panama's Jos Ra l Mulino offered humanitarian aid to the brotherly country.
The United States, whose relationship with Caracas changed drastically after the capture of former president Nicol s Maduro in January, was among the first to react. President Donald Trump said his country stands ready, willing, and able to help and instructed all government agencies to act quickly. The State Department activated a task force to coordinate the dispatch of search-and-rescue teams and medical supplies.