According to incomplete statistics, Chinese associations in Venezuela, including the Federation of Chinese Associations in Venezuela, have organized overseas Chinese to donate approximately 500 tons of disaster relief supplies, including bottled water, biscuits, diapers, milk, rice, sugar, and canned fish, assisting nearly 10,000 affected families in the country.
A Guangdong-born Chinese resident in Caracas told Ta Kung Pao on June 28 that in the hardest-hit towns, many homes and shops have collapsed and are awaiting government-led reconstruction. However, he expects the rebuilding process to be lengthy. Some affected Chinese nationals have been temporarily housed in local Chinese association halls, while others have moved to nearby cities less affected by the earthquake to stay with relatives and friends while deciding their next steps. He mentioned that Chinese-owned shops in the worst-hit areas suffered severe losses, with some entire buildings collapsing.
Another Chinese national revealed that the relevant Chinese associations have issued advisories urging people to evacuate the disaster zones as soon as possible. Due to the strong quake, water and electricity supplies have been cut off in some affected areas, and sanitation facilities have been damaged to varying degrees, posing public health risks such as environmental contamination and disease transmission. The associations have advised that, apart from professional rescue personnel, ordinary citizens should avoid entering the core disaster areas.
Data shows that more than 200,000 overseas Chinese from Enping, Guangdong, live in Venezuela, accounting for about one-third of Enping's overseas Chinese population. A staff member from the Enping Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese said that local Chinese associations and halls are continuing to organize rescue and relief efforts, and that a number of Enping-origin Chinese nationals have been rescued and properly settled. Meanwhile, Enping City has set up a special task force to coordinate all related support work. For the identified casualties, the task force is simultaneously visiting and offering condolences to their family members in China and assisting with post-disaster arrangements.
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