Panama mayor tracks aid to Venezuela with electronic devices

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi is employing an innovative approach to ensure accountability for humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela after a devastating earthquake. He is using electronic tracking devices, specifically 'AirTags', embedded within various supplies to monitor their journey and location.

Mizrachi explained that these small trackers were placed inside items ranging from diapers and water bottles to detergent boxes. The aid, totaling approximately 100 tons collected through a massive citizen effort, has been dispatched in multiple shipments. By tracking these items across different pallets and flights, the mayor aims to provide donors with precise information about where their contributions have arrived.

Currently, four tracking devices are confirmed to be in La Guaira, a region heavily impacted by the earthquake. However, one 'AirTag' sent to Maturín, located about 416 kilometers from Caracas, has shown no activity for a day and a half. Mizrachi expressed uncertainty about the situation in Maturín, noting his unfamiliarity with Venezuelan geography and preferring to seek the most logical and benevolent explanation for the lack of movement.

Despite this concern, Panama continues its aid efforts. Another flight carrying 16 tons of humanitarian supplies departed on Saturday night, marking the tenth flight from Panama to Venezuela. This latest shipment underscores the ongoing commitment to assist the earthquake-stricken nation, even as the mayor navigates the complexities of tracking aid delivery.