UN Coordinates 2,000 Rescuers from 27 Countries After Venezuela Earthquakes

The United Nations is orchestrating a massive international rescue effort, mobilizing over 2,000 personnel from 27 nations to aid Venezuela after devastating earthquakes. Gianluca Rampolla, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Venezuela, confirmed the scale of the operation, which is focused on finding survivors beneath the rubble.

The twin earthquakes, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck the capital Caracas, leaving a tragic toll of at least 1,450 dead and over 3,000 injured. The disaster also impacted approximately 59,000 buildings, according to NASA.

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We are coordinating efforts to provide emergency healthcare, shelter, food aid, water and sanitation, logistical support, and ensure not only the storage but also the distribution of all the supplies that are arriving in the country.

Rampolla detailed the multi-faceted humanitarian mission during a press conference, emphasizing that search and rescue remains the primary objective, even beyond the critical 72-hour window. The UN's efforts also encompass providing emergency medical care, shelter, food, water, sanitation, and logistical support, ensuring the efficient distribution of incoming aid.

The UN is collaborating closely with the Venezuelan government to maximize the impact of resources. Rampolla specifically highlighted the "close cooperation" with U.S. rescue teams, dispelling any notions of diplomatic friction despite previous U.S. actions like the closure of USAID. He noted that the United States was among the first governments to pledge funds for the emergency response, underscoring a unified international commitment to the relief efforts.

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Indeed, the United States was the first government to announce the availability of funds to respond to the emergency.