Canarias opens emergency medical clinic in La Guaira following Venezuela earthquakes

The Gobierno de Canarias has launched an emergency general medicine service in La Guaira, Venezuela, starting this Thursday, to provide care for Canarian nationals, their descendants and other people affected by the double earthquake that struck on 24 June, according to information released by the regional government and reported by several media outlets.

The service operates through the Unión Canaria de Venezuela in La Guaira, offering basic urgent medical care. An information and advice service has also been set up in the same premises, within the Gobierno de Canarias's decentralised office there. Opening hours are 08:00 to 17:00.

According to the government's statement, the clinic is staffed by a medical team and a support worker responsible for guiding affected families, answering questions and liaising with the Delegación del Gobierno de Canarias in Venezuela.

A three-month action plan

The opening of the clinic forms part of an action plan the regional government is rolling out over the next three months, aimed at addressing the most urgent needs identified on the ground, particularly in the areas worst hit by the earthquakes. The operation is being coordinated with the Delegación del Gobierno de Canarias in Venezuela and with Canarian organisations based in the country.

José Téllez, Director General of Emigration for the Gobierno de Canarias, said that "at this moment the priority is to stand by the affected families, listen to their needs and provide a fast, coordinated and effective response." He stressed that the medical clinic "will help strengthen urgent care in one of the hardest-hit areas — not only from a health perspective, but also by offering guidance and support to those who need to know where to turn and how to get help."

Téllez noted that the Delegación del Gobierno de Canarias in Venezuela has become the key logistical hub for coordinating the receipt, organisation and distribution of aid. "The response we are putting together is not a one-off action, but a three-month work plan that will allow us to address the immediate emergency and support affected families over the coming weeks," he said.

First aid packages distributed

In parallel, the Gobierno de Canarias began distributing the first 200 emergency aid packages on Wednesday, consisting of essential food items, water and medication. According to the government, the packages have been made possible through donations from private individuals, businesses and partner organisations, and are being channelled through the Delegación del Gobierno de Canarias in Venezuela to affected families and individuals.

Specifically, 100 food parcels are planned for delivery in affected areas of Caracas, including El Paraíso and Catia, and a further 100 in La Guaira, in areas such as Tagoao, Las Salinas, Las Tunitas, Catia La Mar, Mosquera, Macuto, Caraballeda and Caribe.

The Gobierno de Canarias thanked the various businesses, organisations and individuals who contributed to this first distribution, among them, according to the statement, Corporación Bel, the Casa Canaria de Altagracia de Orituco, the Centro Hispano de Villa de Cura, financial institution Banco R4, and other anonymous contributors.

Ongoing monitoring

The regional government says it is maintaining continuous monitoring of the situation in Venezuela through its delegation in the country, Canarian community organisations and decentralised offices — a network that, it explains, allows information to be channelled, priority needs to be identified and available resources to be organised, particularly in La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda.

According to information reported by elDiario.es, in the context of the emergency, the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores raised the number of Spanish nationals killed to 27. That figure comes from that outlet's reporting and is not part of the Gobierno de Canarias statement.