Massive relief effort for Venezuela after quakes

Safe drinking water and food are the most pressing needs said the charity in a report titled Tras el temblor, el amor (“After the Tremor, Love”).

It said 9000 tonnes of aid have been distributed to thousands of survivors of the twin earthquakes, which struck the country on the evening of June 24. More than 4000 people died, with a further 16,000 injured. More than 18,000 people are homeless.

Specialists from the Caritas network from the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Germany joined local teams to help with sanitation, water, nutrition and shelter.

At least 25 of the more than 100 churches in the Archdiocese of Caracas were damaged.

“Mass is being celebrated for safety reasons outside most of those churches,” said Fr Neptalí Balza, vicar general of the archdiocese. “We don’t want to expose people to risk.”

Fr Alfredo Infante SJ, the Jesuit provincial for Venezuela, said: “The earthquake may have shaken the earth, knocked down walls and left us exposed to the elements, but it cannot dislodge God’s love for us.”

Speaking at a Mass for the Archdiocese of Caracas, he referred to “testimonies of faith” amid the tragedy.

“People who had lost everything decided to pick themselves up and focus on helping others. They have found a path to healing through solidarity. As St Paul with tremendous vigour said: ‘Who can separate us from the love of Christ?’. . . .

“Nothing, not even the force of nature nor aftershocks nor the dust of the ruins can separate us from the heart of Jesus, who leads us to the Father. His love,” continued Fr Infante, “is the only structure to remain intact when everything else falls. He is our refuge and strength.”

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Caritas reports massive relief effort for Venezuela after earthquakes (By Bess Twiston Davies/The Tablet)