Disasters for rains in Venezuela: the Catholic Church expresses its closeness

This week, heavy rains have hit the Andean region of Venezuela, made up of the states of Táchira, Mérida, Trujillo and Barinas, leaving more than 8,000 families affected and using numerous and important traffic routes.

According to him Venezuelan Statearound 370 homes in the region have been victims of the floods, of which 110 days are considered total loss, 151 are at high risk and 116 homes have partial effects, leaving hundreds of people affected.

Governmental entities indicate that the onda tropical 9which moves over Venezuela, would have increased in 300% rainfall in the region, saturating the flow of rivers and streams that have devastated everything in its path, and causing the collapse of at least 25 bridges. So far, the authorities have not registered deceased.

Church’s response

Through Cáritas Venezuela, the Catholic Church raised its voice in the midst of “this moment of concern and pain” that the rains have caused by presenting with “unusual intensity.”

“The magnitude of the situation moves us deeply and drives us to an immediate and coordinated action,” said Mons. José Luis Azuaje, Archbishop of Maracaibo and president of Cáritas Venezuela, in a statement this June 25.

“Given this panorama, and aware that weather projections indicate the continuity of rainfall, we make an urgent call to the activation of prevention and alert mechanisms,” he added.

The social action arm of the Venezuelan Episcopate said that at this critical moment “the solidarity action through this social pastoral one becomes indispensable”, informing that their diocesan teams are deployed in the field, together with the public authorities, to accompany families and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.

Cáritas Venezuela has invited everyone to support the Andean region, donating food, medicines and medical supplies. Throughout the country, the organization has arranged different collection centers for the collection of these articles, together with many others arranged by various civil society actors.

“We call on the generosity of all Venezuelans to join this aid campaign. His contribution, however small, transforms into hope and relief for our brothers. Our social networks You can identify which are the collection centers arranged for this cause “

Cardinal Baltazar Porras expresses “affective and effective closeness”

Through a message spread on his social networks, Cardinal Baltazar Porras said he was very concerned about disasters in the Venezuelan moor and communicated his proximity to all those affected.

“That they count then with our affective and effective closeness. God wants that, in each of the communities, with the generosity that has always characterized them, help those who are in greater need and that the authorities actually act to be able to open the pieces that allow the free transit through the main roads,” said Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas.

“That they have our prayer and affection, and with that collaboration that through Cáritas and the Social Pastoral of each of the parishes help because in times like this, which is an expression of that true fraternity and solidarity in this situation that our Andean peoples are living,” he added.