Venezuela forms new military unit for disaster response amid criticism

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has announced the formation of a special military unit dedicated to responding to natural disasters. The decision comes in the wake of public criticism concerning the perceived slow and insufficient response of the Venezuelan armed forces to the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.

Rodríguez stated that the new unit, to be named the 'Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Antonio José de Sucre' special emergency task force, will be under the purview of the Ministry of Defense. This initiative aims to centralize and strengthen the nation's capacity to handle emergency situations, particularly those arising from natural calamities.

During the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Venezuela's independence, Rodríguez also addressed concerns about potential social unrest following the earthquakes. She asserted that the country would not experience such instability, emphasizing the government's efforts to maintain order and provide relief to affected populations. The creation of the new military unit is presented as part of these broader efforts to ensure national security and resilience in times of crisis.