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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuela Opens Volunteer Registration Center for La Guaira Rescue Efforts

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Venezuela has established a registration center at the Poliedro de Caracas to coordinate and authorize civilian volunteer entry into La Guaira.
  • Authorities are urging the public to avoid traveling to the affected coastal region to prevent traffic congestion and ensure clear passage for rescue vehicles.
  • International rescue teams from various countries are on the ground, with more expected, while a technical coordination table has been set up with the US Northern Command.

The Venezuelan government has opened a registration center at the Poliedro de Caracas to manage and approve the entry of civilian volunteers into the La Guaira region. The registration process, operational from Friday evening, will issue QR-coded credentials based on individuals' skills and technical abilities. This measure aims to streamline volunteer efforts and ensure organized deployment.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez issued an urgent appeal for citizens to refrain from traveling independently to La Guaira. She stressed that the country is navigating its most critical hours for locating and extracting survivors from collapsed structures. To facilitate rescue operations, private transit to the central coast has been restricted. This restriction ensures unimpeded access for heavy transport vehicles, ambulances, and rescue patrols.

The ongoing emergency response benefits from the support of specialized rescue brigades from El Salvador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Ecuador, Spain, Chile, Colombia, and the United States. Additional contingents from Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy are anticipated. In a significant diplomatic development, Rodríguez confirmed the establishment of a technical information exchange table with Major General Kevin Jarrard of the U.S. Northern Command following a working meeting.

Rodríguez also highlighted the activation of a support network comprising psychologists, mental health professionals, and university experts. This network is tasked with providing specialized care and emotional support to children who have experienced trauma or direct loss due to the recent seismic events. The Vice President expressed the authorities' deep emotion regarding the international solidarity shown, specifically mentioning the moment of silence observed for Venezuela during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying activities, describing it as a profoundly moving tribute amidst the humanitarian crisis.

I ask the population not to go down to La Guaira state. Those who do not have rescue or security functions, please refrain from going to the state because you are obstructing the circulation that we need so that our military forces, police, civil protection, firefighters, and rescuers can reach the disaster zone.

— Delcy RodríguezThe Vice President urges the public to avoid traveling to the affected area to facilitate rescue efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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