Every Life Saved Is Hope

 

These are the words of the interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, yesterday after 12 year old Moises was pulled alive from the rubble - four days after the devastating earthquakes.
Venezuela is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. It struggles with rampant inflation, unemployment, goods shortages and a high crime rate. International sanctions, primarily from the US, have weakened the country further. Its infrastructure is crumbling, almost non existent.
So when an earthquake like this hits, there are no efficient mechanisms in place to help. I wept as I listened to a man saying he watched his neighbours tearing at rubble with their bare hands, in an effort to reach trapped family members "They have no tools, no chisels or shovels...they have no proper torches, they are borrowing peoples phones to use the torches on them" 
The window for finding people alive is closing - soon it will be not rescue but retrieval. The nation will have to cope with injured people, with bereavements, the homeless and the hungry.
I may have been hot and uncomfortable last week, I may have missed my weekend in London with my beloved family - but I still have them - so I must try and get things into perspective. And the money for my unused train ticket has already pinged back into my account.
I feel so impotent in the face of their suffering. I pray for them, and for wisdom to know what I can do to help. At the time of writing, the DEC [Disasters Emergency Committee]  have yet to launch an appeal - but they have helpfully suggested some charities already responding in Venezuela, should people want to donate now. Oxfam is one of the organisations which I know and trust. 
Please help Moises and others to have hope...