A Miraculous Rescue and a Family's Hope
Andreína Sarmiento, 23, has spoken to the BBC about her profound relief and determination after her two-year-old nephew, Kleiber Moran, was successfully rescued from the rubble of his home in Venezuela's northern La Guaira state. Kleiber had been trapped for six days following a devastating earthquake. Ms. Sarmiento has pledged to provide Kleiber with 'mother's warmth' as she continues to hope for the safe return of his parents, who remain missing.
The successful extraction of Kleiber by Jordanian rescue teams on Tuesday morning has been hailed as a significant moment of hope amidst a rising death toll from the earthquakes that struck the region last Wednesday. Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim President, described the rescue as a 'source of hope for our people.'
A Promise of Care and Unwavering Faith
Speaking from Kleiber's hospital bedside in Caracas, Ms. Sarmiento shared her emotional journey. 'I will take care of Kleiber with a mother's warmth until my sister appears, which is what we long for,' she stated. She acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, 'I'm praying a lot to God to give me strength because he is only two years old and I am not a mother.' Ms. Sarmiento reflected on her sister's words, 'It hurts me a lot because my sister always used to tell me that he is my son, and now it's like she's handing him over to me and saying 'this is your son, he is your responsibility.''
Upon hearing the news of Kleiber's rescue from a friend, Andreína recounted falling to the floor in tears before rushing to be reunited with her nephew. She mentioned that British rescue teams had also made efforts to reach him before the Jordanian team's success.
Reunion and Recovery
The moment of reunion was poignant; Kleiber immediately recognized his aunt, saying, 'she Auntie.' Initially, Kleiber was in a 'state of shock, screaming and screaming' upon arrival at the hospital. However, he slept soundly through the night and by Wednesday, his condition had 'stabilised.' Ms. Sarmiento happily reported his progress: 'today he's giving me little kisses, he talks to me, he tells me where it hurts.'
Kleiber, wrapped in a Spiderman blanket and surrounded by toys, was observed pushing a small car around his bed in a ward with other child survivors. Despite the ordeal, he sustained only minor injuries. 'He doesn't even have a single fracture. Everything is very good. All he has are some scratches here on his arms and on his legs, but nothing more,' Ms. Sarmiento shared with a broad smile.
Searching for Loved Ones Amidst Devastation
Despite the joy of Kleiber's rescue, the pain of her missing sister, Ana Luz, remains. Andreína described their close bond, with daily video calls and Ana Luz always having Kleiber by her side. 'Wherever she went, her son went too. Whatever Kleiber wanted, she would please him,' Andreína recalled. She expressed certainty that her sister would have been with Kleiber when the earthquake struck.
Search and rescue operations continue across Venezuela, with the official death toll at 2,295 and expected to rise significantly. Tens of thousands are reported missing, and the United Nations is preparing 10,000 body bags for the country. Despite these grim statistics, Andreína Sarmiento maintains hope for her sister and brother-in-law. 'Just as they found my nephew, I have faith that they are going to find my sister and my brother-in-law,' she affirmed, looking at Kleiber. She believes 'he has a purpose in the world,' adding, 'When this child grows up, God willing, this will be his story.'
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