Sharing the pain
In Playa Grande (La Guaira state) - the hardest-hit region in the century’s worst earthquake, the scene is marked by collapsed high-rises, thick dust, and the stench of death. Despite the geographic distance, a delegation of Vietnam’s military and police personnel swiftly arrived to provide assistance.
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A Venezuelan mother thanks Vietnamese soldiers for helping locate and recover her daughter’s body. |
Venezuela’s appreciation was evident upon their arrival: Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez publicly thanked the delegation, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto personally welcomed them at the aircraft stairs, and Defense Minister Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez visited their camp to express his gratitude.
Despite overwhelming challenges, the Venezuelan government and people have maximized support for international rescue teams, providing transportation, free hot meals, and clean water at the campsites.
Placing trust
Operating under scorching heat and constant threat of secondary collapses, Vietnamese rescuers raced against time, sacrificing sleep and meals to search for trapped victims.
Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and head of the Vietnamese delegation, stated that the team treated the search for local victims as if looking for their own relatives, aiming to ease the immense grief of affected families.
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Vietnam’s military force at SAR work |
The delegation’s professionalism and dedication have earned deep gratitude and trust of locals. Many residents, despite anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, offered cold water and fresh fruit to Vietnamese troops, frequently expressing their thanks. Notably, a local resident named Oscar Fernandez specifically sought out the Vietnamese team to help find a relative trapped in a collapsed building in Playa Grande, citing the strong impression the forces had made over the past few days.
While the disaster destroyed Venezualan infrastructure and families, it has fostered human connection, with Vietnam’s armed forces helping to forge a strong bond of friendship between the two nations at the earthquake’s epicenter.
Translated by Minh Anh