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Food, Water, Clothing, Medicine, and Other Essential Supplies Have Reached Communities Affected by Earthquakes in Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia
On June 25, just a day after two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, causing destruction and loss of life in the capital, Caracas, and the state of La Guaira, the Church began supporting victims. They provided meals, clothing, and water, extending assistance even to members of the Civil Defense rescue teams, police, and firefighters. The two earthquakes occurred on June 24 and were widely reported as magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 events.
Less than a month later, another earthquake struck Peru on July 18, particularly affecting the department of Junín, located about 300 kilometers from the capital, Lima. In response, the social outreach programs of The Universal Church launched a campaign to collect supplies and distributed donations in the province of Chupaca, one of the hardest-hit areas, providing food, blankets, and clothing. Peru’s National Seismological Center reported two earthquakes in the area, measuring 5.1 and 3.7, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre initially reported the first earthquake as magnitude 5.6.
On August 10, Colombia also experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4, which caused widespread destruction and loss of life. In immediate response, The Universal Church collected 45 tons of supplies in less than 24 hours for those who lost their homes and members of the rescue teams.
These three incidents in less than sixty days mobilized all of the Church’s social programs, and their actions are ongoing.
In Venezuela, the task force has already assisted 131,917 people and is currently focused on the cities of La Guaira and Caracas. In addition to helping affected residents, volunteers are visiting shelters that accommodate victims of the disaster, children, and people in vulnerable situations.
“The Church acts quickly because social work isn’t only done during earthquakes or floods; it happens every day to reach people who are hungry, thirsty, sick, or destitute,” said Djalma Bezerra, who oversees the evangelistic work of The Universal Church in the country. “The work is constant, and we are always prepared to help our neighbors.”
To date, 122,026 bottles of water, 80,466 meals, 42,076 sandwiches, 38,062 pieces of clothing, 36,063 medications, 41,894 medical supplies, and 6,075 personal hygiene kits have been distributed.
Special attention has also been given to children, with 7,100 kits of small gifts and 1,500 toys distributed.
Additionally, 40.1 tons of non-perishable food, 7,200 ice creams, and 11.1 tons of ice were provided. The ice cream helped alleviate the effects of high temperatures and dehydration in La Guaira, while ice assisted communities affected by power outages and the lack of refrigeration.
Following the earthquake that primarily impacted the department of Junín, The Universal Church, through its Unisocial program, concentrated its assistance on victims in the province of Chupaca, one of the hardest-hit areas.
After collecting supplies at church temples, volunteers conducted a task force on July 25, distributing 140 breakfasts, over a ton of food, and hundreds of pieces of clothing, including blankets and warm garments.
Among those who benefited was Mr. Mauro Tueros, a resident of the Chongos Bajo district.
“Thank God for this great support. My house is all cracked, and this situation is very painful for my whole family. But Unisocial hasn’t forgotten me,” he expressed.
In Colombia, all 171 temples of The Universal Church began collecting donations to support survivors.
The initiatives in Bogotá and the regions of Risaralda, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca, particularly in the cities of Pereira, Manizales, and Cali, have already benefited 16,204 people.
Assistance to date includes the distribution of 26,469 bottles of water, 21,418 meals, 2,090 pieces of clothing, 9,142 medications, 10,494 medical supplies, 3,436 personal hygiene kits, and 41.8 tons of non-perishable food.
Although the needs vary, the actions taken in the three South American countries share a common goal: to reach people facing emergencies and provide assistance according to the most urgent needs of each region.
More than the quantity of donations delivered, these efforts represent a collective commitment to partially restore the basic conditions of dignity for those whose daily lives have been abruptly disrupted.
The Universal Church is present in 148 countries; to learn more about its evangelistic work in Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia, please visit their official Instagram pages by clicking on the links below:
In each country, The Universal Church is located at:
• Av. San Martín Nº 40, Caracas, Venezuela
• Av. Venezuela 681, Breña, Lima, Peru
• Av. Caracas & Av. 1ro de Mayo, Bogotá, Colombia
If you’re interested in participating in the next Unisocial event in your community or would like to join a future project, visit any location of The Universal Church and speak with a pastor. For more information, call 1-888-332-4141.
Contributors:
UNIcom (Translated and Adapted From Original)
