Brazil foresees at least 30 days of humanitarian mission in Venezuela; understand
The Brazilian humanitarian mission in Venezuela should last at least 30 days, according to estimates by the São Paulo Fire Department, which is part of the task force mobilized to support search and rescue operations following the earthquakes that hit the country last week.
The structure mobilized by Brazil brings together military firefighters, members of the Civil Defense, teams from Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency), sniffer dogs, a field hospital, water purifiers, medicines and rescue equipment. Until Sunday (28), the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) had carried out four humanitarian flights to transport teams and supplies to Venezuela.
In addition to sending humanitarian aid, the Brazilian government brought back to the country 13 Brazilian citizens who were passing through Venezuela and sought the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas on an emergency basis.
According to Itamaraty, Brazilians sought support after the closure of the commercial airport in the Venezuelan capital, amid the impacts of the earthquakes. The transport was carried out using the aircraft that had taken humanitarian aid to the neighboring country and would return to Brazil.
The Brazilian teams have already started operations in Venezuelan territory and operate mainly in the municipality of Vargas, in the state of La Guaira, one of the areas most affected by the tremors. The mission is coordinated by the director of Preparedness and Relief of the National Civil Defense, Armin Braun.
The fourth humanitarian flight left on Sunday afternoon (28) from Guarulhos Air Base, in São Paulo, with 35 military firefighters from the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The group joined the teams already operating in La Guaira.
In an interview with CNN Brasil, Lieutenant Olívia, spokesperson for the SP Fire Department, stated that the new task force travels with a self-sufficient structure to operate in the country. According to her, firefighters carry personal protective equipment, food, tents, fuel and tools used in rescues, such as mallets, grinders and saber saws.
The lieutenant explained that the first team sent by Brazil left with a forecast of 15 days of operation, extendable for another 15. "For a month, we have full operational capacity to work in Venezuela without interruption", she said.
The Brazilian operation also includes the search for survivors in so-called "pockets of life", spaces that can form among the rubble of large buildings and allow victims to survive for days after collapses.
According to Olívia, teams need to act with caution, as the movement of firefighters and the use of equipment can destabilize damaged structures. During the searches, professionals remain silent and use whistles and flashlights to try to locate possible survivors.
Brazilian aid
The first Brazilian government team took off on Friday (26), in a FAB KC-390 Millennium aircraft, from Guarulhos Air Base. The plane landed on Friday night at the Venezuelan Air Force El Libertador Military Base, in Maracay.
On Saturday (27), a second flight left Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro, with a field hospital and water purifiers. A third flight also took off on Saturday, with medication kits and a complementary module for the installation of the field hospital.
The operation is coordinated by ABC (Brazilian Cooperation Agency), linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Brazilian government states that it remains at the disposal of the Venezuelan authorities and international organizations to expand humanitarian support, according to identified needs.
Review of the tragedy
At least 1,450 people died after the two earthquakes that hit Venezuela, according to the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, in a televised address this Sunday. Another 3,150 people were injured.
Rodríguez stated that the country is going through "critical hours" to continue saving lives. According to him, 12,721 people were left homeless and 774 buildings were damaged or collapsed, including hospitals.
The tremors had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. The destruction hit Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, with building collapses and damage to local infrastructure.
Given the gravity of the situation, the president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a national state of emergency and asked for support from the international community.
The humanitarian response involves Venezuelan teams, civilian volunteers and rescue groups sent by other countries. According to Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela received international support with 2,624 rescue teams and 137 search dogs.
Other countries also announced support. Peru reported having sent more than 14 tons of humanitarian aid. Paraguay deployed 32 military personnel with specialized training to assist in search and rescue actions.
American military arrived in Venezuela on Sunday to provide support in search operations. Marines disembark to participate in humanitarian assistance efforts led by the U.S. Department of State in support of Venezuelan authorities.
FAB rescues 13 Brazilians after earthquake closes airports in Venezuela | NOW CNN
Source: CNN