The President of the Venearuba foundation, Ghislinne Henriques, has issued an urgent appeal to the Aruba community to focus their donations on medicine, canned food, and essential items to help the victims of the recent disaster in Venezuela, asking to temporarily halt the drop-off of clothing.
The foundation, in close cooperation with the Odres Nuevos organization, is working tirelessly to collect and sort the aid coming from the community. However, Henriques explained that the current situation requires a shift in priorities.
Medicine and baby items are the highest urgency
Henriques emphasized that there is an enormous need for medical and hygiene supplies due to the difficult situation that the affected areas (such as Falcón State, Tucacas, Morón, and Puerto Cabello) are going through.
The most critical items needed at this moment are:
• Medicine: Painkillers, fever reducers, pain relief creams, and antibiotics.
• Hygiene items: Bandages, medical tape, alcohol, disinfectants, and face masks (essential for rescue workers due to public health risks).
• Flashlights: Very necessary for search efforts and for people left without electricity.
• For babies and adults: Diapers, baby food, formula, and adult diapers.
• Food and water: Canned food and plenty of drinking water.
One of the most critical points brought forward by the president of Venearuba is the large amount of clothing they have received, much of which is not in good condition.
“We have to say that, unfortunately, a large part of the clothing arriving is damaged, party clothes, high heels, or carnival outfits. We ask people to put their hands on their hearts: give what you yourself would want to receive if you were in need,” Henriques declared.
The foundation has decided to stop accepting clothing in order to process what they already have and to avoid unnecessary expenses on fuel, transport, and the volunteers’ time, who currently have to throw away what is unusable.
Logistics and the aid route
Regarding the figures for damages and victims, Henriques stated that while official numbers vary, there are unofficial reports speaking of more than 1,400 fatalities and around 50,000 missing persons.
The logistics of transporting the aid are not easy due to numerous limitations, but Venearuba has strategic alliances to guarantee that the donations safely arrive by boat into the right hands in Venezuela. The boats will be leaving very early from the harbor.
How to help?
The foundation is receiving donations at their headquarters located next to Visser Trading, behind Crown, where a large balloon serves as a landmark. They will be open on Monday until 8:00 PM.
Finally, the foundation is making a special call to local merchants to contribute even just one can or a bottle of water, and to individuals with pickups or trucks to help transport the materials to the harbor.
