In brief
Six days after catastrophic earthquakes shook Venezuela, a Jordanian rescue team successfully extracted a three‑year‑old boy named Klieber Morán from debris in La Guaira. His rescue, televised and hailed as a symbol of hope, highlights ongoing search efforts amid widespread destruction. Venezuelan officials and international partners praise the operation while admitting that many more survivors may still be trapped beyond the initial rescue window. The UN and WHO warn of shortages in food, shelter, and healthcare, underscoring the urgent humanitarian needs in the region.
In a striking display of international aid, a Jordanian search and rescue team pulled a three‑year‑old child from the ruins in La Guaira, six days after two powerful quakes that rattled Venezuela. The child, identified by the interim president as Klieber Morán, was found alive and given first aid before being transported to a hospital in Caracas, where his vital signs remained stable.
The rescue, captured on video and broadcast to the public, was hailed by Delcy Rodríguez as a “moment of hope.” It comes amid a growing crisis in which the United Nations estimates tens of thousands of people urgently need food and shelter, and more than 1,900 deaths have been reported, with >10,000 injured and many missing.
The devastation has already impacted nearly 58,870 structures, according to NASA satellite data. International teams from the United States, Mexico and dozens of other countries have been working with trained dogs and heavy machinery to locate survivors, a process usually most successful within the first three days post‑quake.
UN Humanitarian Aid agencies report that the city of La Guaira is experiencing severe shortages of basic services and that community tensions are rising amid limited access to assistance. Local residents describe a chaotic situation where people “nearly kill each other for food… it’s like a cockfight.”
The World Health Organization warns of heightened risks for vaccine‑preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria, caused by low vaccination coverage in the aftermath. Emergency kits, including supplies for safe births and newborn care, shipped by the UN arrived on Tuesday, boosting the fragile medical response.
Despite ongoing humanitarian aid, many Venezuelans remain in grief as they await the identification of remains at makeshift morgues. Wilker Molalla, a survivor, highlights the haunting reality that of his 11‑member household, only two survived, the rest presumed dead.
The rescue of Klieber Morán underscores the resilience of international cooperation while spotlighting the profound challenges that still lie ahead for Venezuela’s disaster‑stricken population.
