Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez on 9 July expressed the nation's gratitude to 28 countries that have dispatched humanitarian aid following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck central Venezuela on 24 June, killing at least 3,685 people and injuring 16,740 more. Rodriguez made the remarks after personally inspecting a collection centre in Caracas, where more than 2,000 tonnes of international relief supplies are being sorted for dispatch to temporary camps housing survivors.

Scale of the Disaster

The back-to-back earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck on 24 June have left 17,907 people homeless, according to the latest figures released on Rodriguez's Telegram channel. An earlier official report placed the number of displaced persons at 17,345. Authorities have since recorded 1,076 aftershocks, and tens of thousands are still reportedly unaccounted for.

International Relief Effort

A total of 29,567 rescuers remain deployed across affected areas, including 3,281 from abroad, according to the latest official update. Authorities have established 80 temporary camps to shelter displaced and affected residents. Rodriguez pledged transparency in the use of incoming aid, saying each contributing country would be able to track how its supplies are being used on the ground.

'Venezuela never tires of thanking the countries, the peoples of the world, and the governments of the world that have offered a helping hand,' Rodriguez said. She added: 'Each country will be able to see how its aid is being used so that the Venezuelan people feel the friendly helping hand of that country.'

India's Role: Operation Amistad

Among the nations responding, India has deployed medical teams under 'Operation Amistad', with an Indian Army Field Hospital providing treatment and care to earthquake survivors and their families. Survivors have reportedly expressed gratitude for the medical support being extended. The operation underscores India's growing role in international disaster response beyond its immediate neighbourhood.

National Mourning and the Road Ahead

Rodriguez last week declared seven days of national mourning beginning at 6:00 pm on the day of the announcement, in tribute to the victims. 'In honour of the memory of the victims, I have decided to decree National Mourning for seven (7) days,' she wrote in a statement posted on social media. She described Venezuela's grief as profound, stating: 'Venezuela's soul is torn by the human losses caused by the devastating earthquakes.'

Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Rodriguez stressed the importance of long-term recovery. 'The most important thing is to look to the future, how we are going to recover, how we are going to rebuild the affected areas,' she said. With rescue operations still active and aftershocks continuing, the path to reconstruction remains long.