—President Ali announces national-relief effort as CARICOM, private sector and security services unite to deliver emergency aid

AT least 100 containers of emergency-relief supplies are being mobilised in Guyana for earthquake-ravaged Venezuela, with the first shipment expected to depart on Friday aboard an 8,000-tonne cargo vessel, as President Dr Irfaan Ali launched a national humanitarian response in collaboration with CARICOM, the private sector and national-security agencies to assist thousands affected by one of the region’s deadliest natural disasters.

The announcement came during a live national briefing on Saturday, when President Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and members of the Venezuelan community outlined Guyana’s emergency response to one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region’s recent history.

According to preliminary reports, at least 1,430 people have been killed, more than 3,200 injured and thousands remain missing after two powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern and central Venezuela just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday evening.

The earthquakes, centred near San Felipe in Yaracuy State, caused catastrophic destruction across several regions, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, where widespread building collapses have been reported. More than 430 aftershocks have since been recorded, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

Against that backdrop, President Ali said Guyana could not remain indifferent to the suffering unfolding across its western border.

“Our neighbours, the people of Venezuela, today we are responding to one of the greatest humanitarian needs as a result of a disaster in Venezuela at a scale and magnitude that is unimaginable. As good neighbours, we must reach out,” the President said.

He noted that Guyana had already communicated its willingness to assist Venezuelan authorities through both public statements and direct engagement.

The Head of State said Guyana’s response would focus on the immediate humanitarian needs of those most severely affected, particularly vulnerable groups.

“Our immediate concern is the children, especially the children, the women and the families who have suffered,” President Ali said.

He explained that Guyana’s assistance will include food supplies, pharmaceuticals, medical support, sanitation items, recovery materials and equipment, along with other critical humanitarian necessities for babies, the elderly and displaced families.

The President announced that Prime Minister Phillips will lead and coordinate every aspect of Guyana’s humanitarian operation, working alongside the CDC, GDF, Guyana Police Force, the private sector and representatives of the Venezuelan community living in Guyana.

“The private sector is critically involved in this support and critically involved in the planning and execution of this,” President Ali said.

He also acknowledged the significant Venezuelan community residing in Guyana, noting that many nationals had already joined Guyanese citizens in contributing to the relief effort.

“We are also a country with a large number of Venezuelan nationals who work here and who live here, and that community, along with the general Guyanese population, would have reached out and are responding in an unbelievable way,” he said.

President Ali revealed that Guyana had already secured a cargo vessel through private-sector support to transport emergency supplies to Venezuela.

“We have been supported with a vessel capable of taking 8,000 tons of support to Venezuela,” he announced.

Because of the vessel’s carrying capacity, Guyana has also extended the humanitarian operation to accommodate assistance from other CARICOM member states.

“We have extended the operation to include CARICOM support, and we are going to have that support coming in during the coming days,” the President explained.

He said the intention is for the vessel to depart Guyana by Friday, carrying the first shipment of emergency supplies.

According to President Ali, approximately 100 containers of relief supplies have already been mobilised.

“So far, we have mobilised close to 100 containers,” he disclosed.

Those supplies include five containers of urgently needed pharmaceuticals, along with containers of rice, milk products, diapers and other essential relief items.

Despite the scale of Guyana’s response, President Ali stressed that the humanitarian needs remain overwhelming.

“The need is immense,” he said.

Providing details of the operation, Prime Minister Phillips announced that the government has established the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) facility on Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, as the central collection point for relief supplies.

The facility will be managed in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force and the Civil Defence Commission, with logistical support from the private sector to ensure donations are sorted, packaged and prepared for shipment.

“We will be establishing a collection point at the MYO facility on Woolford Avenue,” the Prime Minister said. “That facility is being assisted by the Guyana Defence Force and the Civil Defence Commission.”

He said donated items would be organised and loaded onto the cargo vessel identified by the President, with the first shipment expected to leave Guyana on Friday.

WHAT IS NEEDED

Prime Minister Phillips said the government is appealing for donations of pharmaceuticals, bottled drinking water, dry-food supplies, mattresses, cutting equipment and other emergency relief items required by communities devastated by the earthquakes.

“The intention is for the ship to depart Guyana on Friday with pharmaceuticals, water, foodstuff, mattresses and equipment, cutting equipment and dry groceries… rice, peas and other essential supplies that will be needed by the people of Venezuela at this time of need,” he said.

The nationwide ‘Humanitarian Aid Donation Drive for Venezuela’ is calling on members of the public, businesses, non-governmental organisations and community groups to contribute relief supplies.

According to the official advisory, donations will be accepted from June 27 to July 1, with the MYO compound serving as the main drop-off location.

Authorities are requesting donations of non-perishable food items, including rice, beans, canned foods, cooking oil and other essentials; personal-hygiene supplies such as soap, toothpaste, diapers, sanitary napkins and toilet paper; sleeping items including blankets, sheets and sleeping mats; drinking water; and lighting and energy supplies such as flashlights, batteries and solar chargers.

Officials have advised that all donated items should be unopened, unexpired and in good condition, with easy-to-prepare foods and pop-top canned goods especially encouraged.

Members of the public seeking additional information can contact the Civil Defence Commission on 600-7500, 226-1114 or 226-1117, while enquiries regarding the MYO collection point can be directed to 624-3362.

Prime Minister Phillips added that contact numbers for his office would also be made available to coordinate the national relief effort.

Representing the Private Sector Commission, businessman Komal Singh appealed to businesses across Guyana to support the humanitarian exercise by donating through their respective sectoral organisations or directly through the PSC and the CDC.

“To all the private-sector members across the length and breadth of Guyana, please reach out to your respective sectoral organisation within your area and donate whatever you would like to donate,” Singh urged.

He said businesses could either coordinate donations through their industry associations or directly through the Private Sector Commission.

Prominent businessman Brian Tiwari also pledged additional shipping support, announcing that his company would make one of its 1,000-ton vessels available from Wednesday to strengthen the relief operation.

“We also have a lot of employees from Venezuela. We will make one of the 1,000-ton vessels available from Wednesday morning and, if possible, we have another 1,000-ton vessel on standby just in case we get more containers so that we can send two vessels at the same time,” Tiwari said.

President Ali thanked Guyanese citizens, Venezuelans residing in Guyana, the private sector and CARICOM governments for rallying behind the humanitarian initiative.

“I want to thank our Guyanese brothers and sisters, Venezuelans living here, the members of CARICOM and all the CARICOM family for the strong support at this hour and time of need as a result of a disaster of a scale and magnitude that is unimaginable to the people of Venezuela,” the President said.

“We continue to have you in our thoughts and prayers and know that we are here in support of all the efforts.”

The first shipment of relief supplies is expected to leave Guyana by Friday as the country joins regional partners in delivering life-saving assistance to thousands of Venezuelans affected by one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history.

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Caption : President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and members of the Venezuelan community during the live.