Brazilian government sends two more flights with humanitarian aid to Venezuela this Saturday (27)

The Brazilian government will send two more flights with humanitarian aid to Venezuela this Saturday (27). The aircraft will transport a field hospital, medicines, health supplies, water purifiers and specialized teams to care for the victims of the earthquakes that hit the country on Wednesday (24). The operation was authorized by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and responds to a request from the Venezuelan government.

In the morning, a Brazilian Air Force plane departs from Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro, carrying an Advanced Trauma Unit from the Brazilian Navy Field Hospital, 48 military personnel responsible for operating the structure and 100 water purifiers with solar panels, with the capacity to treat five thousand liters per day each. The equipment will be donated to the Venezuelan Civil Defense.

In the afternoon, a third flight will carry five calamity kits with 111,800 medicines and supplies, as well as a complementary module for the installation of the field hospital. Among the materials sent are antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, injectable solutions, bandages, gauze, infusion devices, syringes, gloves, plasters and masks. According to the federal government, the amount is enough to serve around 1,500 people for a month, and the donations do not compromise the Unified Health System’s stocks.

The first Brazilian mission arrived in Venezuela on Friday night (26), after taking off from Guarulhos Air Base, in São Paulo. The team brings together 44 professionals, including members of the Military Fire Departments of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Paraná, specialists from the National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense and technicians from the National Telecommunications Agency. The aircraft also carried six sniffer dogs and equipment for search and rescue operations.

Anatel technicians will use spectrum analyzers and directional antennas to locate cell phone signals under the rubble and assist teams in rescuing victims.

In a post on social media, Lula stated that he will continue “following the development of relief work for victims to provide all the necessary support to our Venezuelan brothers”.

The Brazilian mobilization is coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The government informed that it remains at the disposal of the Venezuelan authorities and international organizations to expand support according to identified needs.

Earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 caused building collapses in Caracas and other cities, especially in the state of La Guaira. According to the most recent report released by the Venezuelan government, 920 people died and around 2,900 were injured. Search operations continue and authorities say the number of victims could increase.

According to an estimate presented this Saturday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an agency of the United Nations (UN), up to 6.76 million people may have been affected by the earthquakes of June 24. The calculation considers population and damage analyzes and includes around 2 million inhabitants of Caracas.