by Antonella Prenna
Caracas – Sister Maria Eugenia Ramos Rangel, Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Venezuela, is finding the strength to speak amid the grief and despair caused by the powerful earthquake that struck northern Venezuela on the evening of June 24, devastating in particular the areas of La Guaira and Caracas . In an interview with Fides, she reflects on the tragedy and on the commitment of the Salesian Family to those affected.
“It is difficult for me to speak about the situation in Venezuela because this reality is not recent. We were already witnessing an emergency that had unfortunately been taking root in our country,” Sister Maria Eugenia says.
“We, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Greater Caracas, could not simply stand by while collecting emergency supplies. We went out to meet the most vulnerable, offering our presence, a listening ear and concrete assistance. Our primary goal is not simply to be a collection center that distributes aid and leaves. We want to interact with people, especially children, and accompany them in their needs.”
“With this spirit, we visited several neighborhoods and emergency shelters, including Parque del Este, San Martín, La Pastora, Maripérez and the San Bernardino Sports Arena. We began the day with a beautiful moment of prayer before Jesus in the Eucharist, who sends us forth and gives us the strength to be present alongside those who are suffering.
Together with the Salesian Youth Movement, we also continue to sow hope and light by organizing games for children and spending time with families, who deeply appreciated this initiative. In some places, we found that relief efforts were already well organized, allowing us to move to more critical areas such as Plaza Panteón.
There the situation was heartbreaking. Many families had been left completely exposed to the bad weather for days, enduring both the scorching sun and the rain. We brought mattresses, blankets and basic necessities. We personally delivered the donations directly to the affected areas to ensure they reached those who truly needed them.”
Reflecting on these experiences, Sister Maria Eugenia says what has impressed her most is “the extraordinary solidarity of the Venezuelan people.”
“It is remarkable to see collection centers overflowing with medicines, clothing and food, thanks to the generosity of companies and ordinary citizens who have mobilized to support those affected by the disaster. Our next mission will take us directly to La Guaira to assess the situation and deliver emergency supplies. We have already coordinated with local contacts to reach specific communities, offering words of comfort, listening to people’s concerns and bringing food and essential resources.
We are deeply moved and truly believe this is the miracle of solidarity in Venezuela. It is especially touching to see that the poorest are often the first to give. Recently, we received two large trucks from Brazil’s Amazonas State, sent by people who themselves had experienced the devastating effects of recent floods. Today another truck arrived from San Cristóbal. Every Salesian educational community across the country is independently organizing relief collections and channeling the aid through us.”
Sister Maria Eugenia concludes by thanking everyone who has contributed to helping those affected by the tragedy.
“We are deeply grateful for the trust of all those who support us and enable us to help others. We will continue visiting the most vulnerable communities and will keep everyone informed about our work. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May God bless you and multiply all the good you are doing—and will continue to do—so that we may persevere in serving those in need.”
Meanwhile, although less intense than the initial quake, aftershocks continue to shake the affected areas, further hampering already difficult rescue operations. The death toll continues to rise. According to the latest figures released by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez during her first press conference since the disaster, at least 2,595 people have died and around 12,400 have been injured. Tens of thousands of buildings are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed.
Hospitals remain overwhelmed, with medical care unavailable in many areas. Rescue teams from Mexico, Jordan and several other countries are operating on the ground. The situation continues to reflect a severe humanitarian crisis, with survivors increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of relief efforts and recovery. Criticism of the Venezuelan government’s response has focused on operational inefficiency, arrests related to looting, and the shortage of shelters and fuel.
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