“The UN describes as “terrifying” the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela”

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New York.- The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, told EFE this Thursday that the situation in the areas affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela is one of “truly terrifying devastation,” as the organization coordinates the deployment of at least 12 international search and rescue teams.

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The 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes that shook Venezuela this Wednesday have left, according to official figures, about 188 dead, 1,520 injured, and thousands affected, in an emergency that, according to the UN, worsens an already critical humanitarian situation in the country.

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“The situation on the ground is truly terrifyingly devastating,” Fletcher stated in a phone conversation with EFE, warning that the organization was already providing humanitarian assistance to some eight million people in Venezuela before the earthquakes.

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“The challenge is already great. This makes it much, much harder, but our total focus is on this emergency response,” added the British diplomat.

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«Incredible global mobilization»

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Fletcher highlighted the “incredible global mobilization” to respond to the catastrophe, with the deployment of 12 international teams of about 80 people each and another 13 groups preparing to be sent.

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“We have worked with the deployment of 12 teams of about 80 people each from all over the world, an incredible global mobilization, with support from the U.S., Russia, China, Mexico, Qatar (…) The first team will go tonight, from Switzerland,” he explained.

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The first contingent will work together with personnel from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with specialized dogs, tools, and equipment intended for search and rescue operations among the rubble.

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We recommend reading: The world turns to Venezuela with rescue teams and humanitarian aid

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Emergency operations are being coordinated “against the clock” from Caracas, in a network that integrates the UN Resident Coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, with OCHA teams and local authorities.

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Fletcher pointed out that the mobilized teams are “trained and accredited” specialists and that the coordination seeks to “maximize the work that each one can do and the help they can provide”.

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“We are fully mobilized, every hour counts and we will save as many lives as we can,” assured the humanitarian official, who reiterated that the “number one priority” is the search and rescue of survivors.

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Medical teams in the coming weeks

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The UN also plans to send medical teams and emergency aid with food, water, and shelter in the coming weeks to assist the affected population.

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