AMMAN — Under Royal directives, Jordan on Thursday dispatched relief, medical and food assistance to Venezuela, in cooperation with Qatar, to support those affected by the double earthquake that struck several areas of the country. 

 

A Qatari C-17 aircraft departed from Amman for Caracas carrying 26 tonnes of specialised medical supplies for treating injuries, medical consumables, basic food items and relief parcels to meet the urgent needs of affected families, according to a statement by the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF).

 

The shipment also included equipment for the Jordanian International Search and Rescue Team, affiliated with the Public Security Directorate, which began search, rescue and relief operations in Venezuela earlier this week.

 

A second Qatari aircraft is scheduled to depart Amman on Friday carrying a similar shipment of medical, relief and food assistance.

 

The aid is intended to strengthen the capacity of the relevant authorities to respond to the earthquake's aftermath, support the health sector and provide essential supplies to affected communities, helping ease humanitarian suffering.

 

The assistance is part of Jordan's ongoing humanitarian efforts under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, reflecting the Kingdom's longstanding commitment to supporting countries and communities affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises through the provision of relief and emergency assistance, the statement said.

 

Tens of thousands of people urgently need food and shelter in Venezuela due to the devastation from two huge earthquakes that killed more than 1,700 and injured 5,000, the UN said on Tuesday, as doctors warned of potential outbreaks of disease.

 

Last week's 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes -- the strongest to hit the country in more than a century -- have left tens of thousands unaccounted for and prompted a frantic search and rescue operation for survivors trapped in the rubble of flattened buildings.

 

The UN refugee agency said "food shortages are widespread, basic services have broken down, and connectivity has been largely severed" in the port city of La Guaira, north of the capital, Caracas.

 

"Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained," UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf said.

 

The agency said it needed some $14.85 million to scale-up protection, core relief items and temporary shelter for 30,000 earthquake-affected people over six months.

 

The quakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings, according to a preliminary assessment of satellite data published by NASA.

 

World Health Organisation spokesman Christian Lindmeier said health services in Venezuela were overstretched and under "extreme pressure" due to demand.