Venezuela (MNN) — Families in Venezuela grapple with both losses and unflagging hope a week after two massive earthquakes struck the country’s coastal region.
By June 30, the death toll had reached at least 1,943 people. But estimates of what the final losses could be are much higher. The United Nations says it is ordering 10,000 body bags for Venezuela.
More than 40,000 people are still reported missing after the quakes, according to a website promoted by Venezuela’s political opposition.
Annabel Torrealba with TWR says that in hard-hit La Guaira state, “Almost every family in that area lost somebody. Everybody’s mourning, and others are hopeful that they can find their siblings alive. They don’t leave that area where the buildings are located, just waiting for news.”
At least 24 nations have sent help to Venezuela, including rescue and support workers. Local men and women without training or tools have done what they can to help rescue others. But the response can’t match the magnitude of the destruction, and the mission is increasingly grim.
“The odor in the area is really bad,” Torrealba says. “[Monday] in the afternoon, everybody started to wear masks because the smell is too hard to be there without masks. That means that there are many people dead.”
Looters have added another layer of chaos. But apart from those seeking their own profit, “most people are helping, and that’s amazing to see,” says Torrealba. “Please pray for peace, for calm, that God helps people to understand that this is a time to be together.”
A girl in Maracaibo, Venezuela (Stock photo courtesy of Alejandro J. Paredes Perez via Unsplash)
Pray for wisdom for pastors and Christians making decisions and ministering to survivors. Torrealba says at first, no one was organized.
“Now there are places where people can bring food, can bring some of those important resources like water, medicines, to those places. And they are going to take those to different locations,” she says.
TWR’s partner, RTM Venezuela, is preparing to send aid and gospel resources in collaboration with local churches. Pray that their devotional booklet and compassionate listening will point those they serve to Christ.
Despite damage to their Maracay office in the quakes, RTM Venezuela’s team is also producing special broadcast programs in response, “bringing [listeners] peace, hope, trying to connect with them, and also let others know what is happening in their area,” says Torrealba. Many of RTM Venezuela’s listeners were in La Guaira and the capital city, Caracas.
Another danger point to be praying about is that kids rescued from the rubble will be reunited with their true families. Torrealba says some people try to take children who aren’t theirs.
“Pray also for wisdom for the government, because in some areas the authorities — the police, the National Guard — they are not organized,” says Torrealba.
Finally, ask God to sustain anyone trapped in collapsed buildings who is still alive.
“We cannot lose our hope. I know God can do miracles — especially in those situations, He can perform miracles,” Torrealba says.
(Photo courtesy of Kevin Keith via Unsplash)
Header image is a stock photo taken in Caracas, Venezuela, courtesy of Luisana Zerpa via Unsplash.
