Caracas, Sept. 7, 2026 (Lusa) - The Association of Friends of the Diaspora and Madeiran Emigrants (AADEM) announced on Monday that it plans to distribute 240 tonnes of humanitarian aid, collected in Portugal, to Portuguese-Venezuelans affected by the twin earthquakes in August, over the coming weeks.
The president of AADEM, Moisés Rodrigues, announced the initiative and is currently in Caracas overseeing the customs clearance process for the aid and assessing the capacity of local Portuguese associations to receive it.
«The aim of this visit to Venezuela is, on behalf of the series of associations that have come together to collect humanitarian aid, from the islands to the mainland, to make the official handover of the containers of humanitarian aid,» he told Agência Lusa.
According to Moisés Rodrigues, «in total, there are 10 containers, seven from Lisbon and three from the north of the country, with a total load of 240 tonnes».
«Four are already on Venezuelan territory, two are going through customs clearance to be released, and the other two should be available as early as next week,» he said.
Rodrigues also explained that this is humanitarian aid collected by civil society in Portugal, by Venezuelans and people of Portuguese descent «who have experienced first-hand the pain of what has happened in Venezuela».
«These containers hold food, medicines and medical supplies, ranging from masks, gloves and gowns to surgical equipment, nappies for babies and adults, and personal hygiene items,» he specified, emphasising that the collection was organised in the knowledge that delivery to Venezuela would take some time, as the shipment would be sent by sea due to international logistical issues.
The initial delivery, she said, will go to ten local institutions, including the Portuguese Women's Charitable Society, the Padre Joaquim Ferreira Retirement Home, the Maracay Geriatric Home, «Regala Una Sonrisa» (Give a Smile), the Peregrinas de El Junquito, Venexos, Consulta Salud (Health) and Ajuda-Caritativa.
Meanwhile, contact has already been made with organisations in the cities of Los Teques and Valencia, as well as Cáritas Valencia and Cáritas Caracas, which will receive the second consignment of humanitarian aid.
«In this first phase, the organisations already contacted will each receive between 10 and 15 pallets, which is why it was important to determine the capacity of each one,» he emphasised.
He also explained that AADEM is considering providing financial support to various institutions in Venezuela.
Moisés Rodrigues also announced that, to raise funds, AADEM and other associations are organising a Venezuelan food festival in Madeira, taking place between 18 and 20 September, which the «Na minha Terra TV» channel will broadcast online. Several activities are also scheduled to take place on the mainland between October and November.
Finally, AADEM is selling raffle tickets to fund the shipment of 27 tonnes of medicines to Venezuela, donated on the Portuguese mainland, he announced.
The president of AADEM expressed concern that the situation in Venezuela is no longer making the news and insists that, internationally, «people have little awareness of what has really happened» in the country.
«Anyone who knew La Guaira before the earthquake, upon seeing it now, experiences a huge emotional and visual shock. The scene of destruction is overwhelming, far worse than what can be seen on television; only those on the ground can see the reality,» he said.
The double earthquake on 24 June caused severe damage to infrastructure, as well as injuries and fatalities, in seven Venezuelan states: Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Lara, Yaracuy and La Guaira, the latter being the worst affected.
According to the latest updated figures released by the authorities, 6,509 people died, and hospitals treated 226,696 injured people following the earthquakes.
Among the fatalities, there are at least 138 Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent.
FPG/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
