Raymond Samuel – Despite being embroiled in an economic crisis and even being depicted as a “failed state” by the Western media, Venezuela is still able to show empathy and solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in Central Sulawesi.
On Wednesday October 3 Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriques announced through his Twitter account that the Venezuelan government plans to send US$10 million to assist victims of the earthquake in Indonesia.
“President Nicolas Maduro has approved a donation of 10 million dollars US for our sisters and brothers in Indonesia for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which has caused thousands of deaths and injuries”, he wrote.
Venezuela itself was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale in August this year. It was the strongest earthquake since 1900 and was felt as far away as Venezuela’s capital city Caracas.
Venezuela has consistently demonstrated a spirit of solidarity since the beginning of the Bolivarian revolution under the leadership of the late president Hugo Chavez. Venezuela has shown tremendous solidarity with other nations.
In 2005, Venezuela sent millions of gallons of fuel to poor households in the US who needed to heat their homes to confront the cold of winter.
When the US city of New Orleans was hit by cyclone Katrina, Chavez sent food and water. Not only that, the Chavez administration sent thousands of troops, firefighting equipment and volunteers to help the ordinary people there.
In 2017 when cyclone Harvey hit the US mainland, Venezuela also sent US$5 million in assistance.
And it is not just the US, Venezuela has also shown solidarity with Africa and Asia. Palestine, a country which is strangled by military aggression, often receives solidarity from Venezuela.
Notes
By comparison, according to the Sydney Morning Herald Australia has said it will send AUS$3.9 million while the UK government has pledged 1 million pounds (US$1.3 million) to support immediate relief efforts and New Zealand has pledged $AUS3.2 million in aid.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Meski Dililit Krisis, Venezuela Kirim Bantuan untuk Korban Gempa Sulteng.]
