St Vincent contributes to Caricom humanitarian aid for Venezuela

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has joined its Caribbean Community (Caricom) neighbors in providing humanitarian assistance to Venezuela, which was struck by powerful earthquakes on June 24. The nation's contribution aligns with similar support efforts from Guyana, Grenada, Belize, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister Godwin Friday highlighted the importance of regional solidarity, stating that his administration understands the profound impact of natural disasters. "We have faced our own difficult times, and we know how much it means to have friends and neighbours stand with you when you need them most," Friday said. He expressed hope that the contribution would offer comfort and aid to Venezuelan families and communities engaged in recovery and rebuilding.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, underscored the significance of this cooperative response. "When our neighbours face hardship, we must be prepared to stand together and respond," Bramble stated. He characterized the humanitarian effort as a demonstration of the strength derived from regional cooperation and collective action among Caribbean nations.

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We have faced our own difficult times, and we know how much it means to have friends and neighbours stand with you when you need them most. So, we stand with our Caricom partners to extend a helping hand to the people of Venezuela. We hope this contribution will bring comfort and support to families and communities working to recover and rebuild.

The relief supplies, delivered to Venezuela's La Guaira port, comprised 88 containers filled with vital items. These included food, medicines, construction materials, debris-removal equipment, and 300 water tanks. The aid aims to assist communities severely affected by the twin earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yván Gil received the shipment. Rodríguez conveyed gratitude to the participating Caricom leaders and specifically requested her appreciation be passed to Prime Minister Friday and the people of St. Vincent. Gil described Caricom as a "steadfast friend and partner," emphasizing that the bloc's solidarity reflects the robust nature of regional cooperation during times of need. The earthquakes caused widespread devastation, resulting in over 4,800 confirmed deaths, thousands missing, nearly 17,000 wounded, and over 18,000 people displaced.

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When our neighbours face hardship, we must be prepared to stand together and respond. This humanitarian effort demonstrates what we can achieve through regional cooperation and collective action.