Weeks after the earthquake: Wales reminded it can still help Venezuela
More than three weeks on from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June, churches and ecumenical bodies across Wales are reminding congregations that the crisis is far from over.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within seconds of each other near the capital, Caracas – the strongest to hit the country in more than a century. Latest figures show more than 4,400 people have been killed, over 16,700 injured, and tens of thousands remain missing. An estimated 96,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and 680,000 children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched a UK-wide appeal on 1 July, with 14 of its 15 member charities – including Christian Aid – responding on the ground in Venezuela. By early July the appeal had raised over £10 million, including a donation from His Majesty The King and £2 million matched by the UK Government through its UK Aid Match scheme. The Welsh Government contributed a further £50,000.
Despite these encouraging totals, the needs of those affected continue to grow. Christian Aid’s local partners in Venezuela are still distributing food, water, first aid kits and shelter to families who have lost everything, in a country that was already facing a severe economic crisis before the earthquakes struck.