💌 Personal Note:
Thank you to everyone who has called, texted, and emailed to inquire about my friends and family in Caracas. I am happy to report that everyone is safe and accounted for with no injuries.
However, the days and weeks ahead will present a significant challenge for people across Venezuela, as aging, failing infrastructure did not fare well against the earthquakes.
Please consider sharing this post with your networks who are looking for resources and ways to send help where it is most needed. Thank you.
News of the devastating aftermath of the dual earthquakes that struck Venezuela around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24th, traveled quickly as photos and videos of shaking buildings, damaged infrastructure, and calls for help started appearing online from residents of Caracas.
This is what we know nearly 24 hours later, since the 7.2-minute foreshock and 7.5 earthquake rocked the Caribbean-facing nation that has been at the forefront of Trump's Latin American policies:
- There are at least 188 people and at least 1,520 injured, per Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. It is speculated that the death toll could climb into the thousands as rescue efforts continue. (NBC News)
- State of Emergency Declared by Delcy Rodriguez, who has mobilized emergency responders and called on doctors and nurses to report to work to care for the injured, and said that hotels and shelters would be opened for those left without homes." (NY Times)
- International aid has poured in as the 🇺🇸 United States pledged $150 in humanitarian aid, with the Defense Department also providing "aircraft to assess damage, find injured victims and deliver life-saving assistance". 🇨🇦 Canada pledged an initial $5 million in humanitarian aid, including emergency food, water, and health care (CBC). 🇲🇽 Mexico has sent a specialized team of rescuers, commonly known as "Los Topos," to assist with on-the-ground search-and-recovery efforts (Telemundo). 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇴 Colombia, and 🇨🇺 Cuba are amongst the numerous nations also pledging support.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you are reading this outside Venezuela and would like to help, then please read the following with supreme attention.
Right now, the main ask is for monetary support to prevent supply chain clogging and further strain on limited logistical channels that physical goods (food, clothing, water, etc.) often require.
- World Central Kitchen — Chef José Andrés's nonprofit — has already pledged $1 million in support and is accepting donations specifically routed to on-the-ground efforts across Venezuela.
- International Rescue Committee — IRC Teams are already on the ground in Venezuela and are helping provide resources like water, nutrition, and other vital services.
- GlobalGiving — This general fund routes your donation to vetted local Venezuelan organizations in need.
Also, for my Canadian friend, the Canadian Red Cross has launched an appeal on its website to support people affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela.
If you have family or friends in Venezuela, please consider sharing the following resource compiled by the folks at Caracas Chronicles, which includes detailed information on local nonprofits across multiple nations running collection drives, where to report or identify missing persons, and on-the-ground donation centers across Venezuela.
On a closing note, I have been reminded by several of my fellow Venezuelans that while the state of affairs between the United States and Venezuela remains fraught (see today's U.S. Supreme Court decisions on Temporary Protective Status (TPS), which was specifically designed to protect immigrants from deportation if it is unsafe to return to their home country) we must center our energy on helping those in need right now.
Politics will continue to play out without a doubt, but this moment calls on all of us to act with both decency and urgency.