This Monday afternoon, the Navy ship AB “Goajira” T-63 arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with 20 tons of humanitarian aid from the Venezuelan State, after the explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano, which has precipitated the evacuation of thousands of people and caused countless power and water outages.
The shipment sent by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela contains 17 thousand liters of drinking water, non-perishable food, blankets, sheets, mattresses, hammocks and personal hygiene kits, according to the Vice-minister for the Caribbean of the People’s Power Ministry for Foreign Relations, Raúl Li Causi, who has been in the Caribbean nation for several days.
The multidisciplinary team of 15 experts from the Simón Bolívar Humanitarian Task Force also arrived, and will collaborate in evacuation, search, pre-hospital care and technical assistance.
“We are from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and with different authorities from the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), receiving with great pride our Bolivarian Navy ship, which brings 20 tons of humanitarian aid for the San Vicente people”, said the Vice-minister.
He also reported that this first shipment of the humanitarian cargo is part of what has been described as the ‘Emergency Phase’ which will continue to the ‘Reconstruction Phase’, in which Venezuela will also provide all support and solidarity.
“We came to transmit again our most sincere messages of solidarity, because here is ALBA first, Venezuela always trying to help others, this resilient people who will move forward.”
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves sent his words of thanks through his Twitter account.
“Our brothers and sisters from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela have come to our aid, sending a ship with much-needed supplies and equipment. We are eternally grateful for the generosity of Comrade Nicolás Maduro, the Government and the people of Venezuela”, he wrote.
Canciller Arreaza conversa con Primer Ministro de San Vicente y las Granadinas sobre planes de evacuación tras erupción de volcán
The Venezuelan Vice-minister also announced that the Bolivarian Navy ship will be available to establish a sea bridge with different islands and countries of the Eastern Caribbean, such as Saint Lucia and Dominica.
“To which we will also be bringing supplies of water and various inputs that have been requested. All of this is part of the solidarity of ALBA, and of the many lessons we have learned from.”