00:02One month in we can see that the needs have shifted, right now we are seeing a shift to
00:08more primary healthcare and also the treatment of chronical diseases.
00:13We are also supporting in mental health and psychosocial support, which is a very important
00:18aspect.
00:20So the people that the help goes to is really the affected community, the healthcare system
00:28is under pressure.
00:2944 hospitals have been destroyed, over 100 primary health facilities, healthcare facilities
00:35have also been destroyed.
00:37So healthcare is really one of our priorities at this moment.
00:40And what sort of numbers of people are you attending to?
00:46What conditions are they suffering?
00:49I assume trauma injuries came initially after the quakes, but what is the nature of the illness
00:57now?
00:59So between our two clinics that have been set up, one in, well, both in the affected
01:05areas, one in La Guayra and one next to a damaged hospital in San Jose in Maiketia, we are seeing
01:12between 100 and 300 patients per day.
01:15The exact conditions, of course, they differ from person to person.
01:20But as you said, trauma care, that is becoming less, but we are still seeing people, for example,
01:27with diabetes, pregnant ladies that come for checkups, people with chronic diseases like
01:36diabetes, these are the types of things that we are currently seeing.
01:41And outside of the field hospitals, in the broader community, how are food supplies holding up?
01:52Well, within the temporary reception centers that people are residing, there is food.
01:59Most of the times, this is being prepared for them.
02:04The Venezuelan Red Cross is also handing out kitchen sets so that people can either now or in the future
02:10start cooking themselves again.
02:13I would say food supply is still ongoing, but of course, a lot of people have also lost their jobs,
02:22their incomes.
02:22So that will be a big concern as well for the future, which is why we also have to look
02:28into livelihoods
02:30and how we can help people get back on track again.
02:33Of course.
02:34And then there's shelter and homelessness.
02:37What's being provided on that front?
02:41So on that front, at this moment, we are still doing assessments and seeing what the exact needs are
02:47and how we can support there.
02:50So that is something that we will need to see in the future.
02:52But we know that this is a long...
02:57This is a long...
02:58It will take time to provide the help needed for the people.
03:04The Emergencies Appeal of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
03:11is there for two years, in which we want to help 300,000 people.
03:18And we have a specific focus on this long term, because we know that many times there's a lot of
03:24attention
03:25at the beginning of a disaster like this, in this case of the two earthquakes, but it naturally drifts away
03:31after a while.
03:32But that doesn't mean that the needs are less or that the affected population doesn't need support after those initial
03:40weeks, initial six months.
03:42So that is something that we are really now focusing on.
03:45Of course.
03:46I might just take you back, Johannes, to something you mentioned earlier, and that is around mental and psychological care.
03:54What sort of professionals are available to provide that?
03:59What are you encountering?
04:02Yes.
04:03So in terms of mental health and psychosocial support, we have volunteers from the Venezuelan Red Cross,
04:12and we have also experts from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
04:18that are currently supporting activities around mental health.
04:22And we are seeing adults, but also children, also elderly people that have all been affected
04:32because of these two earthquakes.
04:34And the emotional damage is not always visible on the surface.
04:44So it's something that we really also want to raise awareness about, keep thoughtful of,
04:51and also make sure that people know where to find us if they need any type of psychosocial support.
04:58And we've heard your appeal that you've made here today, Johannes, for the international community
05:04to continue to pay attention.
05:06But can I ask about Venezuelan authorities themselves?
05:10There was early criticism, naturally enough, after the twin earthquakes.
05:16But what are your observations now about the Venezuelan government and its agencies?
05:22Are they helping or hindering?
05:25So we understand that there are concerns because there, of course, are still a lot of needs.
05:31As the Red Cross, we are a neutral organisation and we are auxiliary to the authorities.
05:37So we try to support the people that need our help most.
05:41And that is something that we will continue to do, no matter the location, no matter the country,
05:47no matter the disaster that we're responding to.
05:50So our first and most important goal is to help the people that need it most.
05:58I understand that tradition of the Red Cross.
06:01Johannes Chinchilla, thanks so much for the update.
Comments