The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has initiated a fundraising drive to assist the thousands of individuals affected by powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela. Fifteen prominent UK aid organizations, including the British Red Cross, Oxfam, and Save the Children, have joined forces to solicit public donations.
The earthquakes, which occurred within seconds of each other last Wednesday, have resulted in over 1,700 fatalities, a figure the United Nations has indicated will inevitably increase, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for. The charities emphasize the urgent need for funds to provide survivors with essential aid such as shelter, food, and water.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the earthquakes as the "most brutal natural catastrophe" in the nation's history. At least 5,000 people have been injured, and hundreds of buildings have been reduced to rubble following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors, which prompted the declaration of a state of emergency.
Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed and facing shortages of critical supplies, while demand for assistance among those left homeless has surged. According to the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Venezuela, approximately 2,500 buildings have been impacted, with a significant number having completely collapsed.
International response has seen several countries, including the UK, deploy search and rescue teams, as well as medical and humanitarian personnel. However, in some severely affected areas, residents have been largely left to conduct their own rescue efforts due to a perceived lack of substantial government support.
Both the UN and the US Geological Survey have projected that the death toll could potentially reach 10,000. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the government would match public donations up to £2 million, highlighting the critical need for global humanitarian support for the people of Venezuela.
The DEC, an umbrella organization for 15 leading UK aid charities, coordinates the delivery of aid. The appeal is scheduled to be broadcast across the BBC and other media outlets on Wednesday.