Argentine NGO launches air bridge with Dreamliner to deliver aid to earthquake-hit Venezuela

An Argentine NGO, Solidaire, has launched an urgent air bridge to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes devastated its coastal regions. The operation, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed from Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires carrying a contingent of rescue specialists and medical personnel.

The earthquakes, which struck near the coastal region, caused widespread destruction, collapsing residential buildings and severing essential infrastructure like power lines and water pipes. Hundreds of families are now displaced, facing the immediate threat of a health crisis due to damaged sewage systems. International assistance is described as a race against time in what international security forces are likening to a post-war zone.

Solidaire, founded by pilot Enrique Piñeyro and Carla Calabrese, was established in 2021 to provide aerial and maritime support for urgent humanitarian missions. The organization has a history of global operations, including evacuating war refugees in Europe and rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Dreamliner completed a direct six-hour flight to Venezuela's Maiquetía International Airport. Although the main terminal is damaged, a side runway remains operational for emergency humanitarian flights. Upon arrival, the aircraft immediately departed for Panama to establish a continuous logistical bridge, operating from a temporary base there.

The mission highlights the critical need for rapid international response in disaster-stricken areas. The deployment of specialized teams and equipment aims to mitigate the immediate impact of the earthquakes and support recovery efforts in the heavily affected Venezuelan communities.