Cuban delegation pays solidarity visit to Venezuelan embassy

Images via Estudios Revolución

By Claudia Díaz Pérez, translated from the Spanish

President Miguel Díaz-Canel headed the Cuban delegation that On June 6 visited the Venezuelan embassy in Havana to sign the condolence book for the devastating earthquakes on June 24, which resulted in over 3,300 fatalities, 16,700 injuries, and thousands left homeless.

Díaz-Canel expressed solidarity with the families and friends of the victims and reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to help support Venezuela in the aftermath of this natural disaster.

The Cuban President emphasized the efforts of Cuban doctors and rescuers who, "on behalf of the Homeland, contribute modestly in the rescue and care actions for those affected." The head of state guaranteed that they will remain in place "as long as necessary." The message ended with a warm hug and sincere condolences from the largest island in the Antilles.

The Cuban delegation included Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, both members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, along with acting Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal. They were welcomed at the diplomatic mission by Venezuela’s ambassador to Cuba, Orlando Maneiro Gaspar.

On June 24, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck the northern coast of the country, with the most significant impact felt in the state of La Guaira and the capital city, Caracas.

The official toll reported so far exceeds 3,300 dead and more than 16,700 injured. The quakes caused the total collapse of 190 buildings and left more than 17,345 people homeless.

More than 1,000 specialists from twenty countries have been deployed in Venezuela to collaborate in rescue and medical care work. As soon as the earth tremors began, Cuban medical specialists in the Bolivarian nation started attending to the injured.

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, recently honored the rescue teams, including the Cubans, for their efforts, awarding them the titles “Heroes of Venezuela” and “Canine Heroes of Venezuela.”

Even after all this time, rescuers continue with clearing debris and searching for survivors. For instance, a woman and three minors were rescued this Sunday, having been trapped under the rubble for eleven days.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC