US$20,000 in quake aid for V’zuela

POST-EARTHQUAKE conditions in the hardest-hit parts of Venezuela have been described as “disastrous” by the Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago (CMTT).

The group has distributed US$20,000 in relief supplies to displaced families in Caracas and La Guaira.

Speaking to the Express from Caracas yesterday, CMTT public relations officer Imtiaz Mohammed made a further appeal for citizens to support relief drives destined for Venezuela, as hundreds of people, including children and the elderly, are now without food or shelter.

The CMTT’s first relief effort, which was completed yesterday, was a collaborative exercise which included Helping Hands USA and Muslim Hands UK.

The funding raised was used to purchase food and other emergency items in Caracas, with 500 hampers distributed on Saturday and yesterday.

A first tranche of 250 hampers were distributed at a government camp in Caracas, with a second distribution at a camp in La Guaira.

Mohammed noted that the distributions were “very challenging and chaotic at times”, particularly in La Guaira.

He described scenes of anxiety, with displaced Venezuelans rushing towards relief trucks.

Mohammed said most areas affected by the June 24 earthquakes were under heavy patrol by Venezuelan national security, and rescue and recovery efforts were slowed by a need for heavy equipment.

Noting that the CMTT was among civil organisations currently running relief collection drives for food items, as well as sanitary supplies, Mohammed encouraged the national community to assist the people of Venezuela.

He emphasised that many had lost their families and homes, and that long-term help would be needed to restore the affected areas to relative normalcy.

Mohammed noted reports that thousands were still missing, stating that homes, schools and businesses had been destroyed.

Videos of the weekend’s hamper drive shared by Mohammed showed long lines of the displaced seeking assistance, including many young people.

The hampers contained basic food items which were now difficult for some to access, including rice, flour, beans and oil.

Mohammed said the CMTT hoped to soon finalise its second drive for goods from T&T, which would then be shipped to those in need.

Other relief efforts

A number of relief efforts have been ongoing locally, with non-governmental organisations and individuals seeking non-perishable food, medicine, personal care and building and shelter supplies for donation to affected areas in Venezuela.

Yesterday, close to 200 volunteers from Sewa International TT gathered at the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) in Chaguanas, to assemble 1,000 emergency relief buckets for affected families.

The relief effort was attended by Venezuelan Ambassador Álvaro Sánchez Cordero, as well as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Darrell Allahar; Revan Teelucksingh, president of Sewa International TT, and Colin Greaves, head of corporate communications at Proman.

The ambassador thanked them and the volunteers for their invaluable solidarity. June’s twin earthquakes in Venezuela killed more than 4,000 people and left thousands more homeless.

Trinidad Express