A Vancouver man, trapped in Venezuela following last week’s earthquakes, has been providing aid while trying to search out a way home.
Arnaldo Dos Santos had been visiting Venezuela on business when the back-to-back earthquakes struck on June 24.
He was on the 14th floor of a highrise apartment and was lucky his constructing was not considered one of those that collapsed.
His Venezuelan passport had recently expired and with government services unavailable and the closest airport heavily damaged, he’s now stuck within the country.
He told Global News that since he’s stuck for now, he has decided to assist people in need of food and medicine.
“To take a drive in Caracas immediately, and the quantity of tents and the quantity of individuals just literally sleeping on the bottom because they don’t have anything,” Dos Santos said.
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“We’ve tried to distribute mattresses and pillows and blankets and camping tents just to offer them shelter. For the youngsters, we’ve given them, you recognize, foldable cribs with formula and diapers and wet wipes and private hygiene products for the people as well.”
Dos Santos said he may be very grateful for the outpouring of international support.
He said the state has only a few resources to reply to a tragedy of this scale, which, to this point, has killed around 2,300 people and left 1000’s more injured and displaced.
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