Venezuela: Families digging out relatives from rubble without help

Devastation in La Guaira, Venezuela © ACN

Church communities are out in force to help deeply traumatised people in the wake of the deadly devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela. Priests, who have been accompanying the wounded in hospitals in Caracas, said "the reality is devastating".

One priest said: "Before giving the sacrament of the sick to a mother, I asked her how she felt. She smiled, and answered: 'I'm alive,' and then added: 'everything is going to be all right. I have just had both my legs amputated, but we are going to move forward.'

"Another mother asked me, before I gave her the sacrament: 'Pray for my little children, who died.' And a young girl, in tears, told me that she had lost her parents, her grandparents and her siblings."

Archbishop Raúl Biord of Caracas told ACN: "For those who survived, it was a miracle, but we lost many people... One of the most important things now is to listen. We know of many families that had to remove their dead from the rubble themselves."

According to the latest official figures more than 1,400 people have been confirmed killed, with more than 3,000 wounded after two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5, less than a minute apart shook the country on 24th June.

Tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.

La Guaira, the capital of La Guaira State, which is on the coast town, near Caracas suffered the worst damage from the twin quakes.

Seminarians were in the Seminary of St Peter and St Paul when the earthquake hit at 6pm local time. Archbishop Biord said: "The seminarians were in the building when the earth shook. "There were some lightly wounded, but nobody was killed and both the seminarians and their formators were able to leave. We can say that it was a miracle. However, the building is inaccessible, it cannot be used and it was heavily damaged. They lost everything, even their clothes and shoes… Nothing was left."

The seminarians have been moved to Caracas, where they will receive psychological care to help them overcome the trauma they experienced.

Several regions remain without electricity and many buildings collapsed completely, while others suffered so much structural damage that they are unusable.

Church sources who spoke to ACN estimate that around 250,000 people may have been left homeless due to the earthquake. Many banks are still closed, so people are unable to access cash to cover their basic needs.

Archbishop Biord said: "We should take time to organise the aid we require. The needs are immense. Naturally, the main priority now is to rebuild lives. We have lost so much. We need to care for those who survived. Priests and religious, as well as Caritas volunteers and pastoral agents must tend to the needs of thousands of people who have been badly traumatised.

"This will be one of the biggest priorities for the diocese over the coming months, to support and train those who will be on the front lines of this pastoral accompaniment."

ACN has approved a first support package of €100,000 (£86,410) to help the Church in Venezuela respond to the tragedy.

The aid will help to support priests, religious communities and other pastoral workers who are sheltering families, helping survivors and offering spiritual support in the wake of the tragedy.

Archbishop Biord thanked ACN and other charities for their help. He said: "We really need your support. It helps us to rebuild our lives and our country, together."

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With thanks to Maria Lozano

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Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org