On Wednesday, June 24, two catastrophic earthquakes hit Venezuela within seconds of each other. The UN estimates that millions of people have been affected, with more than two million in the worst impacted areas. Families have lost loved ones, homes and the sense of safety and security they once knew.
Rescuers are searching for survivors, but the scale of loss is already significant and the people of Venezuela urgently need help. Together with the 14 other charities that make up the DEC, we’re launching a UK-wide appeal to meet the escalating needs of people affected by the earthquakes.
Christian Aid colleagues are already working hard with our partners to assess the needs of our neighbours in Venezuela and ensure that our emergency response is exactly what and where it needs to be. Our local partners are best placed to reach affected communities with urgent assistance; they are providing emergency medical treatment, delivering meals and food baskets, and ensuring people have access to clean drinking water.
We know there is always hope in the darkest of times and we encourage you to stand with us in solidarity, and ask all those who are able, to respond to this suffering with compassion and practical help.
Val Brown, the Head of Christian Aid in Scotland and spokesperson for the DEC Scotland Appeal said: “This is an unimaginably difficult time for the people of Venezuela affected by this disaster - from the terror and chaos of the earthquakes to the ongoing anguish of missing or injured loved ones. People are coming to terms with the fact that their whole lives have changed in seconds. Many have lost their homes and belongings, whole neighbourhoods have been destroyed with buildings reduced to rubble. The scale of the destruction is catastrophic.
“Many DEC member charities were already working in Venezuela so are able to collaborate with local and national experts. They responded immediately by delivering basic aid from the very beginning – food, water, emergency medical care. But so much more is needed now and in the coming days and weeks.
"Any donation you can make now will help save lives and help the most vulnerable people affected by this catastrophe.
"We’d like to thank the Scottish Government for their generous support for this latest appeal, the 80th in the DEC’s 60 year history. We hope the £250,000 they have just released from their Humanitarian Emergency Fund will encourage people from all over Scotland to dig deep and help make a difference right now."
Recovery will take time. In the weeks and months ahead, Christian Aid’s partners will continue to accompany these communities on the long road to rebuilding their lives.
Please keep the people of Venezuela, and all those responding to this crisis, in your prayers.
You can donate to the DEC Venezuela appeal via Christian Aid: https://caid.org.uk/HelpVenezuela
- £10 could provide essential hygiene supplies to a family to prevent illness
- £50 could help provide emergency food support to two families for a week
- £100 could provide shelter kits for six families whose homes have been destroyed
The UK Government will match donations to the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal pound-for-pound up to £2 million, through its UK Aid Match scheme.
Church resources can be found here.
Caracas. Photo credit: LWF Colombia/Venezuela