Pope Voices Support for Venezuela Earthquake Victims

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV expressed his solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who were struck this week by two powerful earthquakes that left many dead and injured.

"I wish to express my closeness to the Venezuelan sisters and brothers affected by the recent earthquakes that caused numerous victims and injuries", he said in Spanish before the Angelus prayer at the Vatican. He also thanked rescue workers and all those helping to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, announced that the EU has allocated €5m ($5.9m) in emergency aid for the affected areas. She also said she had spoken with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, about support from the EU.

Several member states have already sent search and rescue teams, firefighters and medical personnel to Venezuela.

According to Kallas, the Copernicus satellite system is also assisting in the coordination of aid by mapping the extent of the damage and enabling aid to be directed to the hardest-hit areas.

(Reuters, bak)