Child Found Alive in La Guaira
A three-year-old boy, identified as Klieber Morán, was pulled from debris in La Guaira state, Venezuela, six days following a series of devastating earthquakes. A Jordanian rescue team confirmed the successful operation. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the rescue as a "source of hope for our people."
Klieber received immediate first aid and was subsequently transported to a hospital in Caracas, where his vital signs were reported as stable, according to the Jordanian civil defense. Venezuelan Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez also confirmed the child's treatment in the capital.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The rescue occurs as the United Nations warns of a severe humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of individuals urgently requiring food and shelter. The death toll from last week's 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes has climbed to 1,943, with over 10,000 injured. Tens of thousands more remain unaccounted for.
Initial satellite data from Nasa suggests that approximately 58,870 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed by the tremors. La Guaira, one of the most severely affected areas, is experiencing widespread food shortages, disrupted basic services, and limited communication, as reported by the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR).
"Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained," the UNHCR stated, noting an urgent need for $15 million to provide protection, relief items, and temporary shelter for 30,000 affected people over six months.
Reports from the ground indicate growing desperation. Daniela Armas, an 18-year-old vendor in La Guaira, described the struggle for supplies, stating that "sometimes people nearly kill each other for food."
Health Services Under Strain
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the immense pressure on health services. Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesman, warned of an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria due to low vaccination coverage in the region.
Despite the grim situation, Jorge Rodríguez emphasized that Klieber's rescue underscores the ongoing hope for finding more survivors. Domestic and international teams, including those from the US, Mexico, and other countries, are continuing search efforts with specialized equipment and trained dogs. Shelters have been established in La Guaira and other affected states.
International aid has begun to arrive, with a 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency health kits and supplies for safe births, reaching the country on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, affected communities have started the somber process of burying the deceased, while many others continue to await news of missing loved ones. At a makeshift morgue in La Guaira's port, Wilker Molalla shared his personal tragedy, stating that only two out of eleven family members in his household survived because they were at work when the earthquakes struck.
Source: Original Article
