Panama citizens donate one hundred tons of humanitarian aid for Venezuela

Panama City has mobilized in a significant display of solidarity, collecting 100 tons of humanitarian aid for Venezuela in a mere two days. The massive collection effort, driven by citizens and supported by city authorities, aims to assist Venezuelans devastated by two powerful earthquakes on June 24.

On Monday, 20 tons of aid were sent via air to Venezuela, with an additional 20 tons scheduled to depart by the end of the day. Lizbteh Cunningham, Director of Social Management for the Mayor's Office of Panama, confirmed the dispatch and detailed the contents of the aid. Items include bottled water, essential medicines, clothing, disposable diapers, and blankets.

The donations poured in from Panamanian citizens and residents of various nationalities, including a substantial number of Venezuelans living in Panama. Volunteers and municipal staff, numbering up to 1,600, worked tirelessly over the weekend to package the collected goods. While air transport is being prioritized, the possibility of sending the remaining aid by sea is also being considered.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast with just 39 seconds between them. Official reports indicate at least 1,719 deaths and 5,034 injuries, with an unconfirmed number of people missing. The coastal state of La Guaira, near Caracas, was particularly hard-hit, with numerous apartment buildings suffering partial or total collapse. International rescue teams from 27 countries are now working alongside Venezuelan responders to search for survivors amidst the rubble.

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Twenty tons were dispatched by air on Monday and another twenty are expected to go before the end of the day to the South American country.