Guyana is expected to send a humanitarian aid vessel to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela by the end of the week, joining a growing regional relief effort to support thousands of people affected by one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than 100 years.
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said preparations are progressing as planned to load and dispatch the vessel, which will transport approximately 8,000 tonnes of relief supplies to communities affected by last week’s catastrophic twin earthquakes.
“We are hoping to have that ship loaded by this weekend,” the President said
The shipment, being coordinated through Guyana with support from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, is expected to include pharmaceutical supplies, medical equipment, food for children and families, sanitation products, recovery equipment and other essential humanitarian items.
Close to 100 containers of relief supplies have already been mobilised for the mission.
The aid comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude that struck the country’s northern coast on June 24, just seconds apart. The powerful tremors, among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in over a century, devastated parts of the coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, bringing down apartment buildings, commercial centres, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.
The disaster has claimed at least 2,295 lives, injured more than 11,000 people and left tens of thousands displaced or in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Preliminary satellite assessments indicate that nearly 59,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed, while the United Nations estimates that millions of people require emergency assistance, including shelter, clean water, sanitation and medical care. Rescue operations continue as international teams search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
To coordinate Guyana’s response, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has been tasked with leading the national relief effort.
A multi-agency response mechanism has been established involving the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force, private sector organisations and other partners.
Donated relief items are being received, sorted and prepared for shipment at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) facility on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown, where the CDC and GDF are supporting the operation.
In addition to sending humanitarian supplies, Guyana has also offered logistical and recovery assistance, including the deployment of teams to support relief operations in the affected areas.
