Javier was at work when the ground began to shake violently. While he made it out of the building safely, he was horrified to find that his apartment building had collapsed while his wife was there alone.
“There was no time,” he said. “We were in shock and we were disoriented because it was something that took us by surprise.”
Javier and many others have been waiting on word about loved ones missing since the two deadly earthquakes struck northern Venezuela just seconds apart in the evening hours of June 24.
“I’ve spent three sleepless nights here waiting for an answer with all the hope in the world, praying for God’s help,” he said, looking at the crumpled apartment building. “We are devastated.”
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes, the second of which was the most powerful to hit the country in more than a century, left thousands dead, missing, or injured in and around Caracas and La Guaira. Many families remain displaced and wandering debris-filled streets amid hundreds of frightening aftershocks.
Following two 767 airlifts to the region days after the quakes, Samaritan’s Purse has opened an Emergency Field Hospital and is receiving patients.
Our 56-bed hospital, equipped with two operating rooms, a critical care unit, a pharmacy, and a laboratory, will help relieve the already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Multiple health facilities collapsed, and remaining hospitals have been inundated with casualties.
“We set up here not only to address the immediate need of the trauma that’s occurred, but we’re also going to be here for a couple months operating this field hospital to really support the overall health of the La Guaira state,” said Peter Holz, hospital director on the response.
These relief efforts meet physical needs and provide opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We believe that God would have us help our neighbor, and our neighbor is Venezuela,” Peter said. “We’re here not only to help heal the physical, but we also want to share with them the love of Jesus through our work.”
Mariana was one of the first patients through the door. She was enjoying a quiet afternoon in her apartment when the building started swaying back and forth. Before she could find cover, a concrete wall collapsed on top of her.
“I went several days without any medical attention, and I could see my injuries weren’t getting any better,” she said.
When she arrived at the field hospital, our team welcomed her with open arms, tending to her infected wounds, performing an X-ray on her foot, and prescribing antibiotics. Team members also prayed for Mariana before she left and scheduled a follow-up visit.
“I am truly grateful for the attention and understand that the Lord brought you to this place to help our people,” she said.
We also have many disaster specialists on the ground providing shelter, water, solar lights, and blankets to many hurting people.
Working with a network of local church partners, our team has also started distributing essential relief items to the hardest hit communities.
Eusebio, pastor of a local congregation, was grateful to receive emergency shelter tarps, solar lights, blankets, and hygiene kits to help his community.
“We felt like there wasn’t going to be help from anywhere or from anyone,” the pastor said. “Then suddenly Samaritan’s Purse showed up. God knows our hearts.”
Cecilia, a faithful member Eusebio’s church, was overwhelmed when she received the relief items from her church’s parking lot. Because her home sustained severe structural damage, Cecilia and her seven family members have been sleeping on the ground in the town square. She is thankful to use the tarp as shade from the scorching sun and protection from the rain.
“I’m very grateful because we are seeing the hand of God in this situation,” she said. “Thank God that help has come.”
Our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) teams are setting up two desalinization units near the epicenter of the quakes, each able to produce 400 gallons of clean drinking water per hour.
“Without clean water, you have disease,” said Bruce Clounie, WASH Program Manager. “The water filtration systems are able to take water out of the ocean and make it clean, fresh drinking water.”
Please continue to lift up those affected by the earthquake and for our team on the ground.
