The death toll from two devastating earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed above 1,400 people, with thousands more injured and tens of thousands still reported missing.
As rescue crews continue searching through collapsed buildings and piles of rubble, aid is arriving from around the world — including support from Canadian organizations and communities.
In the hardest-hit areas, rescuers are racing against time to find survivors.
“This is something terrible,” Hector Mendez, a Mexican rescue worker whose team recovered victims from the destruction, told Reuters.
Families are still waiting for news about missing loved ones, including Yamile Santana, whose son and his partner remain unaccounted for.
“They say there are people who are still alive. But it seems there is not enough machinery and equipment to clear all this rubble,” Santana said, in an interview with Reuters.
International rescue teams and relief supplies have started arriving in Venezuela, with support ranging from military-led assistance to community-led efforts.
Just outside Ottawa, in Manotick, community members are collecting supplies to send to those affected by the disaster.
Carolina Guerrero is a Colombian-Canadian and owner of Encanto Café in Manotick. She helped organize a truck filled with donations.
“We just bring a truck, we try to help Venezuelan people. This is the most important thing right now,” Guerrero said.
For Victoria Ramirez, who dropped off donations in Manotick Saturday, the disaster hits close to home.
“Unfortunately, I have family that is from the worst-affected area in La Guaira,” she said.
Her sister and cousins lost their homes.
“When you see people who are resilient and strong like that, you can’t complain. You feel their strength and their resilience, and that’s how all Venezuelans feel. We just want to help from afar,” Ramirez said.
Encanto Café in Manotick is working alongside other organizations, including Medicos Venezolanos en Canadá, Venezolanos en Ontario and Global Empowerment Mission to get community donations to those in need in Venezuela.
The Canadian government has announced $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts.
Canadian organizations say they are preparing to help deliver that aid, including ShelterBox Canada, which has experience responding to disasters around the world.
“We have a lot of experience in this area, but we need to understand what these communities actually want, what they need, what their plans are, so we can make sure we can get the right aid there as soon as we’re able to,” said Stephanie Christensen of ShelterBox Canada.
