Venezuela expresses gratitude for international aid for earthquake victims

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday expressed gratitude for the humanitarian aid provided by 28 countries, including China, for the victims of the earthquake that recently struck the nation. The statement was made by Rodriguez after inspecting an aid collection centre in Caracas, where more than 2,000 tonnes of international assistance were being sorted for distribution to temporary camps housing victims of the 24 June earthquake. “Venezuela never tires of thanking the countries, the people around the world, and the governments in various corners of the globe who have extended a helping hand,” Rodriguez said. “Every country will be able to see how their aid is used, so that the Venezuelan people can feel the warm embrace of that nation,” she added. Thanks to the international response to the tragedy, Venezuela realised that it is not alone, Rodriguez stated. “The most important thing is to look to the future, how we will recover, how we will rebuild the affected areas,” she said. Two successive earthquakes that shook central Venezuela have caused 3,685 deaths and injured 16,740 others, according to the latest official figures.