Under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has announced an urgent humanitarian response through the UAE Aid Agency to support those affected by the two earthquakes that struck off the northern coast near the city of Moron in Venezuela. The UAE has allocated $10 million for the relief effort.
The UAE’s emergency response reflects its humanitarian solidarity in assisting disaster victims, extending support to those in need, and helping communities affected by natural disasters and crises around the world.
The initiative aims to accelerate early recovery efforts, promote stability, and provide essential needs, including food supplies, medical items and a range of relief assistance for all segments of society.
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In this context, Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, underscored the UAE’s leading global humanitarian and relief role in responding to disasters and crises.
He said this stems from the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is guided by the inspiring humanitarian vision of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose unwavering commitment and unlimited support continue to drive the provision of relief assistance to communities affected by natural disasters and help mitigate their impact on all those affected.
Al Ameri noted that those affected by the two earthquakes are facing severe humanitarian conditions and critical living circumstances, making immediate relief assistance imperative.
He added that the UAE Aid Agency is coordinating with the Venezuelan authorities and relevant international organisations to ensure the swift delivery of food supplies, medical assistance and shelter equipment, meet urgent humanitarian needs, and help alleviate the devastating impact of the earthquakes on all affected communities.
Deadly twin quakes
Desperate Venezuelans and foreign rescuers raced to find survivors trapped under rubble after the twin earthquakes that flattened parts of Caracas and surrounding areas, as frustration mounted over a lack of heavy equipment and the death toll neared 1,000.
Foreign rescue teams and aid began arriving nearly two days after magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas.
The government estimated hundreds of people were still trapped and missing on top of 920 confirmed fatalities and 3,360 injuries. A website set up to take reports of people still unaccounted for had over 50,000 listed as of Friday afternoon. The UN’s aid chief gave a similar tally.
The US Geological Survey has predicted high potential for more than 10,000 deaths, which would place the quakes among the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America in the last century.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Source: Khaleej Times