Venezuela – Delivery of 44 tonnes of humanitarian aid

Following the two earthquakes that hit Venezuela on 24 June, and at the request of the Venezuelan authorities, France mobilized and has sent from Guadeloupe 38 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid provided by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre and the French Red Cross. This emergency cargo, which arrived in Venezuela today, includes shelters, solar lamps and hygiene kits. These humanitarian supplies will be handed over to the Venezuelan Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross. Six tonnes of food and non-food goods collected thanks to the generosity of Martinique’s inhabitants will also be handed over to the NGO Caritas Venezuela.

This aid-delivery operation was led by the Crisis and Support Centre, with the support of units from the French Armed Forces in the West Indies and in partnership with the French Red Cross. It follows on from the deployment in the country, at President Macron’s request, of a team of 85 French rescue workers, who carried out search and rubble-clearing operations in conjunction with the Venezuelan authorities until 4 July, to help earthquake victims.

These operations come under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).

France reiterates its profound solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Our thoughts go to the victims, their families and close friends and all those affected by the disaster. France will go on providing its support to the Venezuelan people in this ordeal, in keeping with the solidarity that unites our two nations.