The Government of Aruba continues to actively contribute to the international effort to provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela following the strong earthquake that affected the northern region of the country. This morning, Prime Minister Mike Eman, alongside Minister of Tourism, Transportation, and Labor, Wendrick Cicilia, representatives from the Department of Civil Aviation, the Aruba Airport Authority (AAA), and various other officials, visited the German Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas currently stationed at the Reina Beatrix International Airport. Germany chose Aruba as its logistical base to create a humanitarian “airbridge” to support Venezuela. Currently, two flights depart daily from Aruba to transport personnel, equipment, and medical assistance. The operation is scheduled to continue until July 2, after which the ongoing needs in Venezuela will be evaluated.
According to Prime Minister Eman, Aruba is proud to contribute to a mission whose primary goal is to save lives. “It is an honor for us that Germany has chosen Aruba as the base from which all aerial support for Venezuela departs. This demonstrates trust in our country and in our capacity to facilitate an operation of this magnitude,” Prime Minister Eman declared. During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to see firsthand how the Airbus A400M Atlas was converted into an airborne hospital. The aircraft is equipped with six intensive care beds to transport critically ill patients.
“It is impressive to see this aircraft from the inside. The operation is highly professional. You can see the dedication of more than 20 people—from pilots to doctors, nurses, and technical staff—all working together to provide the highest level of medical care,” Eman said.
The Prime Minister expressed his hope that this humanitarian mission will help support Venezuela’s healthcare system during the difficult times the country is facing. “I am grateful that this type of assistance is available for Venezuela. This is an effort with a single objective: to help those in urgent need of medical care,” he stated. Prime Minister Eman also expressed his gratitude to the commander, pilots, medical team, and all German personnel making the operation possible. “We are here to express our gratitude to the pilots, the commander, the captain, and all the personnel in charge of this flight. At the same time, we want to thank the Department of Civil Aviation, the Aruba Airport Authority N.V., and all the agencies processing requests daily to allow these humanitarian flights.”
In addition to the German operation, the Government of Aruba continues to process requests from various aircraft and helicopters seeking permission to land in Aruba or use Aruban airspace to provide assistance to Venezuela. “This is an important job that we are doing in solidarity with Venezuela. All of this is within the framework of cooperation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and other countries contributing to the humanitarian effort,” Prime Minister Eman said.
Aruba has shown love for its neighbor
At the end of his visit, the Prime Minister expressed his profound appreciation to the Aruban people for their immense show of solidarity with Venezuela. “We see a very supportive community. The response to my call for help has been enormous. The amount of essential goods collected to aid Venezuela is impressive. We are deeply grateful to the people of Aruba.” He concluded his message with a word of thanks: “Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for your love for your neighbor. Your solidarity is making an important difference in the lives of many people.”
Airbus A400M Atlas
The Airbus A400M Atlas is a military transport aircraft developed by Airbus Defence and Space for tactical, humanitarian, and medical missions. The aircraft can transport heavy cargo, vehicles, personnel, and emergency equipment over long distances. In the configuration currently in Aruba, the aircraft has been adapted into an air hospital, featuring six intensive care beds and a specialized medical team to transport critical patients. Thanks to its ability to operate under diverse circumstances and on different types of runways, the A400M is considered one of the most modern and versatile military transport aircraft in the world.
