A team from the Christian group Fundación Doulos travelled to the epicentre of the earthquake in Venezuela to visit affected churches and communities. The aim was both to deliver basic emergency aid and to assess the actual needs for the coming months.

Alianza Solidaria, the social NGO of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, launched a fundraising campaign following the tragic earthquakes of 25 June.

The visit has helped to gauge the serious extent of the damage caused. One of the team members who travelled to Venezuela is Rosa Camargo, who for years served as Tearfund UK’s regional director for Latin America and has been involved in numerous humanitarian emergencies in the region. “The scale of the destruction was massive and, above all, we mourn the loss of human lives”, Camargo said.

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Impact on children and families

Upon visiting the local churches in the municipality of Caraballeda, in La Guaira, the team met community leaders who, despite their own losses, continue to look after their neighbours. Many of them, as Alianza Solidaria describes, are still operating on “autopilot”, supporting others before they have been able to come to terms with what they themselves have experienced.

One of the most worrying aspects is the impact on children. There is great grief amongst the families and communities who have lost their little ones beneath the rubble. “The children who are no longer with us are in the Lord’s hands, but for those who remain, we can still do something for them”, they say.

In the video the team has shared from the ground, filmed near the Casa de Paz Church – one of the few buildings that remained standing and has now become a relief centre –, it can be seen how they are installing water purification systems for the community.

The spokesperson for the Doulos Foundation who appears in the footage says an explicit thank you to the donors: “All of this is thanks to you, to your contributions, your donations and your prayers. The people here are very grateful.”

Indispensable aid

Alianza Solidaria emphasises that the response cannot be limited to the initial emergency. “Reconstruction will not be merely material; we will also need to provide support through the grieving process, trauma and the process of getting back on one’s feet”, say representatives of the organisation, which is working to coordinate programmes for child protection, emotional support and community recovery over the coming months.

Anyone wishing to contribute can do so via the Alianza Solidaria website.