Orlando campaign to help flood victims in Venezuela
Las Tejerías is a community located in the north area of Venezuela, in the state of Aragua, a little less than two hours from the capital region. Although it is close to the metropolitan area, the greenery of the countryside and mountains and rural life stand out. It is a big town.
This community, with economic needs and affected by the general crisis that is hitting the South American country, was damaged by two weeks of persistent rain. The rivers in the area overflowed, especially the Quebrada Los Patos and tragedy occurred: the power of the water and the mud devastated a good part of the community. Some preliminary reports indicate that 54 died, but the number could rise.
In an interview with El Sentinel Orlando from Venezuela, Xiomara Álvarez says that there was an evacuation recommendation, for which she and her family, who have lived in the town for more than 30 years, went to a nearby city, to a brother’s house. Even today, a little over a week after the tragedy, Álvarez does not know if she will be able to return home. The streets are still unrecognizable, entire houses have disappeared under the water and mud: “We left everything. We have life, but we lost years of family history, our things; our neighbors lost their businesses. We were already bad, now we are hardly even,” said the 60-year-old woman.
Just a few days ago, even with the land in Las Tejerías still flooded and hundreds of people working in the area, nature struck the same state again, when the Corozal and El Castaño rivers overflowed due to the insistent rains and hit the city of Maracay. There are three fatalities and gigantic stones that were dragged from the mountains by the water and mud that crushed everything in its path.
Roads to nearby towns are blocked. Abounds is desolation and anguish. The rain promises to return, and meanwhile the country, hurt by the worst economic, political, and social crisis in its history, needs help to respond to its citizens at this time.
William Díaz, a journalist and director of Casa de Venezuela Orlando, explains that this organization, together with several allies, have activated a campaign to urgently send medical supplies, food, clothing, and necessities to these affected communities.
“We have established seven collection centers in Central Florida, in Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties and we appreciate the dissemination because the disaster in the state of Aragua is of incalculable magnitude. It is a tragedy that has hit these vulnerable communities twice,” says Díaz, adding that while it is true that the Madurista regime is establishing control over what is
published in the media, it is difficult to know for sure the scope of the disaster because the tragedy has occurred in sectors with a limited socioeconomic condition.
However, more serious than the control of information is that the arrival of aid to the areas where it is required has been hindered, for which Casa de Venezuela Orlando has been in charge of establishing a solid alliance with a recognized organization in the state of Aragua, which has succeeded in ensuring that aid reaches those affected rather than being intercepted by the government.
“Over seven years working with the humanitarian aid program for Venezuela, we have seen how things that have been sent have been seized and delivered as a generosity from the regime, in this case, we can say that the aid will arrive in a timely manner,” said Díaz.
Likewise, Díaz mentions that, unfortunately, Venezuela does not have a culture of preparation for these natural
phenomena, and that, together with the conditions in which these hamlets are built without adequate foundations and regulations, may magnify the tragedy.
Díaz points out that they are working together with Going Postal, Oviedo Cargo, to be able to send supplies such as non-perishable food, nutritional bars, medicines, personal hygiene and cleaning items, water purification tablets, clothes in good condition, diapers, and formulas. childish.
Although Casa de Venezuela in different cities in Florida was activated to send aid to people affected by Hurricane Ian, the situation in Venezuela demanded that actions be urgently concentrated on supporting the communities of Aragua state.
“In order to make this possible, we must deeply thank the work team, our volunteers and, above all, all the establishments that have opened their doors to serve as a collection center,” said Díaz.