The aircraft carrying Vietnamese rescue personnel landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia City, Venezuela at 12.15 pm local time on June 29, beginning the country’s international rescue mission there.
Under the plan, as soon as the delegation reaches Caracas, it will travel about 40 kilometres to the disaster site before deploying personnel and equipment immediately for search and rescue operations.
Simon Bolivar International Airport is the main air gateway serving Caracas and is also one of Venezuela’s 12 most important airports.
Welcoming the delegation at the airport on the Vietnamese side were Vietnam’s ambassador to Venezuela, Vu Trung My; Colonel Vu The Trung, Vietnam’s defence attache to Venezuela; and staff from the Vietnamese embassy and the defence attache’s office in Venezuela.
The Vietnamese rescue delegation arrives in Venezuela (Photo: Ministry of Public Security).
On the Venezuelan side were Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, leaders from the foreign ministry and representatives of the defence ministry.
Speaking at the reception, Yvan Gil Pinto, on behalf of the Venezuelan government and people, expressed his sincere thanks to the Party, state and people of Vietnam for sending a delegation to help deal with the aftermath of the earthquake.
Major General Pham Van Ty, deputy director of the Rescue and Salvage Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and head of the Vietnamese delegation, told Yvan Gil Pinto that Vietnam’s decision to send forces to assist with earthquake relief was not only an international responsibility but also a reflection of its solidarity with Venezuela.
The Vietnamese delegation will do its utmost to carry out its mission and share the difficulties faced by the Venezuelan government and people.
Colonel Pham Hung Duong, deputy director of the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Department and head of the Ministry of Public Security’s working group, said that during its time in Venezuela, the delegation would coordinate with local rescue forces and international teams to search for missing people, provide medical examinations and treatment, and support earthquake recovery efforts.
"This is not only a rescue mission but also Vietnam’s expression of solidarity with the losses the Venezuelan people are facing," Pham Hung Duong said.
Although the journey from Vietnam to Venezuela was long, all members of the Vietnamese delegation remained in good health and high spirits, ready to carry out their duties.
Vietnam’s military and police contingent supporting Venezuela comprises 124 officers and professional servicemen.
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 1,430 people and injuring 3,238. About 50,000 people are still believed to be missing.
Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors in the rubble, but hopes are fading more than 72 hours after the earthquakes struck.
The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, estimates that about 6.76 million people could be affected by the disaster and require urgent support including shelter, clean water, sanitation, medical care, protection and essential relief supplies.
