World Jewish Relief has launched an emergency appeal to support Jewish and non-Jewish communities in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, the site of two huge earthquakes last week.
On June 24, at around 6pm local time, Caracas was struck by a 7.2 magnitude “foreshock” earthquake before a 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed suit within 40 seconds.
More than 1,450 people are known to have died, with that number expected to rise as the rubble is cleared. Tens of thousands are currently missing.
Three members of Venezuela’s Jewish community have been confirmed among the dead by Roberto Mishkin, president of the Union Israelita de Caracas, the country’s largest Ashkenazi Jewish congregation.
He also told The Times of Israel that four of the roughly 5,000-strong community are also known to be missing.
Additionally, at least 15 Jewish families’ homes have been completely destroyed, and another 35 more Jewish homes have sustained sufficient damage as to render them uninhabitable.
WJR’s emergency appeal seeks to support its local partners to provide urgent needs including shelter, food, medicine, clean water, and hygiene items.
Paul Anticoni OBE, CEO of WJR, said that “the scenes emerging from Venezuela are shocking, and the humanitarian needs are immense”.
“As the Jewish community’s humanitarian response, we are appealing to our supporters and community to provide a lifeline to those suffering from this crisis.”
Anyone who wants to donate to the appeal can do so via the WJR website.
Israeli charities have also mobilised to send rapid response teams to Venezuela, including KKL-JNF, IsraAID, and NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief.
To donate to the WJR emergency appeal in Venezuela, click here.
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