Ministerial-level Member States Virtual Briefing on the humanitarian response to the earthquakes in Venezuela

Excellencies, distinguished representatives and colleagues, good afternoon and thank you for joining us today. It's my great pleasure to welcome you to this ministerial-level member states briefing on the humanitarian response to the devastating earthquakes that have affected Venezuela. Today's briefing provides us an opportunity to hear directly from the government of Venezuela, the humanitarian leadership on the ground, operational partners, and key donors on the evolving humanitarian situation, the response underway, and the immediate priorities for supporting the affected communities. As always, these briefings allow us to share the latest situational updates and the operational context and discuss how we can collectively support the affected people in Venezuela through an effective, coordinated humanitarian response. Before we go into the agenda, a quick couple of logistics points, and for you to kindly note, this meeting will be recorded and livestreamed via UN Web TV. Interpretation is not available for today's session. The Foreign Minister of Venezuela may speak in Spanish, and we shall manage that. And following the opening remarks from the ministerial level panel, we will open the floor for interventions. I will first call upon the delegations that have requested the floor in advance, followed by those who raise their hands in the function in the Zoom, if time permits. So allow me briefly to introduce today's program. We are honored to be joined by a distinguished panel today: His Excellency Iván Gil Pinto, Minister of People's Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who is currently in Caracas, Venezuela, undertaking a mission at the core of the impact areas and seeing the response firsthand. Ms. Hadia Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. His Excellency Moussa Koulatou Kaya, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, His Excellency Mr. Valeny Barreiros Wolff, Vice Minister of Civil Protection and Defense, Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, Brazil, Mr. Paul Siong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Disaster and Humanitarian Response, Department of State, United States. And following these remarks and presentations, we will then open the floor for interventions from member states. Followed by humanitarian partners. A warm welcome to all our distinguished speakers, and I thank you all for joining us. It is now my pleasure to invite His Excellency Mr. Iván Gil Pinto, Minister of People's Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, to deliver his opening remarks. Minister, you have the floor.

De Naciones Unidas para la Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios. Igualmente.

Excuse me. Good morning. I would like to thank you for inviting me here to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Tom Luca Rampolla, por supuesto al director de la Oficina de Asuntos de Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios, Tom Fletcher, por darnos este espacio acá.

I would also like to thank Mr. Tom Luca Ramón and the Vice Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, who is also present here this morning.

Como ustedes saben, bueno, una emergencia nacional producto de dos terremotos ocurridos el día 24 de junio de este año en Venezuela, fundamentalmente en la población, que ha afectado fundamentalmente la población de La Guaira, del estado de La Guaira.

Earthquakes that hit the 24th of June here in Venezuela hit the population very hardly, and the greatest damage was done in La Guaira state. We have until, until that last night, the death toll is of 3,685 people.

16,740 heridos.

16,740 people wounded.

Hemos rescatado 6,462 personas.

We have rescued 6,462 people that were rescued from the debris.

Y bueno, hemos iniciado una operación de asistencia humanitaria que ha sido excelentemente coordinada por la Oficina de Naciones Unidas acá en Caracas por las distintas agencias, por el gobierno nacional, que han permitido atender ya más de 86.794 familias.

And here we have had a humanitarian operation that has given assistance by the different UN agencies as well, coordinated by different Venezuelan agencies, and has been able to address and help 86,794 families here in Venezuela.

Disaster.

Estamos hablando de 190 edificaciones que han colapsado producto de los dos terremotos.

Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this disaster of the twin earthquakes is that we have had 190,000— or excuse me, 190 buildings that collapsed completely.

Han enviado rescatistas a Venezuela. Además, ha habido distintas manifestaciones de solidaridad y podemos hablar que tenemos 4.388 rescatistas internacionales desplegados en el terreno.

And for all of this, for all of these activities, we have had much help. There have been 343 governments that have shown their, um, their commitment with Venezuela and have helped us with rescuers, with different, um, with different helps of solidarity. And that— and we have had in the country in total 4,388 international rescue teams here. And to this we have to add the, the more than 30,000 nationals of the national government that have also helped and added to the international help that I mentioned before.

Luego de los primeros días de la emergencia y los rescates que hemos debido hacer, estamos haciendo frente hoy en día a otra emergencia que se trata de las familias que han sido desplazadas, que han perdido sus hogares producto del terremoto.

And now, after the first phase of the search and rescue, now we are facing a new emergency, which is of all these families that have to be displaced, who lost their homes, and that now We have to find a solution to them, to these people that are absolutely homeless in the country.

Hasta ahora tenemos un registro de casi 18,000 personas sin vivienda, pero que también se suman las personas que están en viviendas con alto riesgo.

And to this we have to add people, in total 18,000 people who have lost their homes, plus other people who are in, their homes are in areas that are categorized as high-risk areas. That present a danger to them to live in. Okay, and for these people, we have placed them in different types of camps, temporary camps, and in total we have 87 of these refugee camps where we have placed these people, but they are temporary camps. They're not permanent. Excellencies, you can see that we are facing now a serious situation of total regions that we have to see how we can can solve this situation for so many people that are homeless. And effectively, the impact is not so much in the economic activity, economic realm, but more so in the social aspect of the people. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, for all of his help and trying to coordinate the different aspects that have to do with humanitarian help in this country in these moments of dire need.

PDNA para diagnosticar y realizar un verdadero plan de recuperación de toda la zona.

And likewise, we would like to thank the action taken by Alexander Lecroix and to the administration of the UN in order to activate the program PDMA, to activate this plan for for the recovery of the country and of the affected areas, specifically speaking. In saying that we face a great need of financing, of help in order to face and solve the current situation.

Como me mostraba el subsecretario Tom Fletcher al inicio de esta conferencia, tenemos aquí presente 170 países, los cuales agradecemos mucho.

And as was pointed out to me by the Under Secretary Tom Fletcher, we have 170 countries that are helping us And that we will continue to need help.

Nosotros queremos convertir esta acción de atención humanitaria, en primer caso, en un segundo empuje que se trata de avanzar en el levantamiento de recursos para la recuperación.

And what we want is to transmit this humanitarian aid that it be like a secondary, a second push to keep on maintaining the humanitarian aid level, to continue to solve all the problems. And the first resource that we have are our own resources in order to face the different situations today.

Tienen bloqueados fondos que pertenecen a Venezuela, a que iniciemos un plan de liberación de estos fondos y que los podamos utilizar en la recuperación.

And I would like to make a call at this moment to all the countries who have our funds that are outside the country that are blocked, and to unblock them so that we can use those funds for the recovery of the country.

Tenemos en el Reino Unido, la Gran Bretaña, Irlanda del Norte, congelado una gran cantidad de toneladas de oro. Tenemos en Estados Unidos congelado dinero. Tenemos en distintas partes del mundo cuentas que pertenecen al Estado venezolano que han sido congeladas producto de sanciones ilegales.

Tons of gold, and there is also our money that is frozen, that is frozen in the United States, and we need these to be unblocked and unfrozen so that we can use these resources for the reconstruction of the country.

Esta es la primera acción de solidaridad y de apoyo que nosotros solicitamos a todos los países del mundo.

And this is the first act of solidarity that we ask to the countries of the world right now

Y por supuesto, si esto no es suficiente, vamos a necesitar seguramente financiamiento multilateral para emprender las labores de recuperación, acciones que ya hemos emprendido con los distintos organismos internacionales.

And if this funding is not enough in order to cover all our needs, we will have to recur to multi— multifunctional, multiple financing from different organisms or bodies of of the world in order to face the situation. That is not enough. And we would, and we cherish, and we would like to thank openly all the donors and all of the help that we have received from the different UN agencies who came here at a first call right immediately after the two quakes. And this has helped us to alleviate the situation in the country in a very significant manner because of the expeditious response time. And what we want to do is transform all of these actions in order to recover these zones, in order to have a quick recovery of the areas. And we would ask the support and the help from all the UN nations in order to give us the necessary help to overcome this scourge. And I repeat, as I said before, I want— we were, we're asking for the liberation of all of our resources that we have outside the country that would help us greatly to face this situation and be able to improve it. And this will be a second help in order to solve the situation with the help of the multilateral institutions that may want to continue supporting us.

Profesionales en poder realizar, bajo el apoyo de Naciones Unidas, el PDNA que nos permita que sea la base para recibir todo este apoyo. Subsecretario, nuevamente gracias por este apoyo, por la oportunidad de dirigirnos a todo este, la presencia de hoy de ministros, de representantes permanentes de todos los gobiernos, de 170 gobiernos, y hacer esta demanda de manera directa.

And we would like to thank again the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tom Fletcher, as well as other institutions and ministers for all of their support, especially of those 170 nations that one way or another have and will hopefully will continue to back. And I would also like to thank the permanent coordinator here, Gianluca, as well as the team, the different teams of the UN present in Venezuela and others who have contributed greatly and have given an expeditious response to the calls from Venezuela of help.

Muchas gracias. Y bueno, le estaremos enviando vía formal esta solicitud de liberación de fondos y de apoyo multilateral.

And thank you very much again, and we will be— we, in a formal fashion, will request for the expeditious liberation of the money and the unfreezing of our assets so that we may be able to face even better the situation that we're facing today, and we need those resources. Thank you.

Thank you.

I think, I think New York may be disconnected, so let me jump in. From here and continue the briefing. I'd like to thank you all, everyone who's joined us from around the world. We have almost 200 partners online from across the Member States, the supporters of this work from across the UN and humanitarian family, and it is a testimony to the global outpouring of solidarity and support to the people of Venezuela at this time. But video conferences and formal meetings are not enough. We now need to turn this solidarity into real practical support, and I want to briefly set out how we can seek to do that. So thank you for joining us. Thank you, Foreign Minister, for your powerful words and for the extraordinary work that has been done over the last two weeks. Thank you for the practical cooperation that our teams have had from the very first moment of this response. I want to pay tribute also to Gianluca Rampolla and the humanitarian family here in Venezuela for their leadership and tireless work, often through the night, again and again, to save as many lives as possible. I'd like to briefly do 3 things this morning. Firstly, to share impressions of the visit so far. Secondly, to update you on the coordination effort and the plan that we have in place. And thirdly, to leave you with our asks for the next phase. Firstly, to pass on to you a sense of how people are responding here two weeks on. I think it's fair to say And I was at La Guaira yesterday evening, one of the epicenters of this double earthquake. People are in shock and despair. There is a moment on these sites, and these are very noisy sites, as you can imagine. You have the noise of the diggers, the heavy machinery, the different teams trying to retrieve people from the rubble. And I was standing with groups of mothers who go to the site there every day in the hope of finding any evidence of their children. And there are moments on the site when one of the recovery team members will raise their hand and everything falls silent. The machines fall silent. And this is because they have heard, or they hope they have heard, the tiniest noise from beneath the rubble. And everyone stops in the hope that this is a sign of life. And to stand with those mothers and fathers at that moment, as they hope against all hope that this is maybe 2 weeks later, their child in a building, 14 stories, which is reduced to a few feet in height. You can see the different levels of the buildings and they're inches apart. And then, as yesterday, after a couple of minutes of silence, the emergency worker raises two arms to signify that they haven't heard a sound. And the digging and the Searching continues. Those mothers asked me last night, "Is help coming?" And today's meeting is our response to that. And there can only be one answer to that question. I very much welcomed the meeting that I had last night with the Foreign Minister, with Acting President Rodríguez, with the President of Parliament Rodríguez, and senior members of the government here, of course, with Gianluca and the team as well. I was able to thank them for the practical cooperation so far and work together on how we plan the next phase of the response. It's really important to note that the key responders in this crisis have been local communities, those who went out from the first moment to search for their neighbors and their loved ones, but also the work that the government has done to lead and coordinate the response. From the first moment, and I was there in Geneva as our team mobilized, I watched them book the seats on the first planes. We saw the Swiss team, search and rescue team, on that first plane with our team going out to try to mobilize and coordinate the response. And since then, we had over 50 urban search and rescue teams from over 30 countries. Never mind the World Cup, this is what it really means to put practical global solidarity into action. People came from all over the continent, from Mexico, from Ecuador, from Panama, from the US. They came from all over Europe, from Germany, from France, from the UK, They came from beyond. There were teams mobilized from Syria, from Israel, doing vital, vital search and rescue work to try to find every survivor possible. And I pay tribute to all of those over 3,000 rescue workers with 200 search dogs and the members of our own team who mobilized as the UNDAC, our coordination team on the ground. As we've heard from the Foreign Minister, the numbers who've been killed and missing are of course immense. And it was vital that we mobilized in those early moments as well $15 million from the Emergency Fund, essential, essential life-saving support, recognizing the scale of this challenge. I'm incredibly grateful to the donors on this call, the member states on this call who contribute to this fund. It is the fund for all, by all, and it is built for exactly moments like this, when we need to mobilize fast, when we don't have time to work the phones to everyone, but we need that money on the ground quickly. And it is thanks to all of you that so many lives were saved. I also want to recognize the work done from day one on coordination. Gianluca and the teams stood up the thematic, the localized cluster coordination mechanisms, all of this complicated technical work we do to prepare for moments like this. And we've seen across this humanitarian family extraordinary work, whether it's on health from the Pan American Health Organization providing primary health care, mental health, psychosocial support, Teams from IOM, UNHCR— I'm in the UNHCR building right now— providing shelter and protection. UNICEF providing support to affected children. WFP providing essential food alongside partners like the World Central Kitchen, and I was in touch with Chef José Andrés yesterday as I arrived, doing extraordinary work. Teams from UNDP, as we've mentioned, from Alexander de Kraus' team, supporting with rubble removal and assessing long-term recovery needs. And then, of course, extraordinary teams— and I saw many of them in action yesterday— from across the NGO family: Caritas, World Vision, NRC, DRC, Save the Children, and so many others who are on the call with us right now. Along the way, the private sector has also stepped up with direct contributions surpassing already $32 million. Digital satellite information, heavy machinery for rubble removal, food, beverages, the whole spectrum of vital, vital support. Now, for the next phase, it is essential that as we transition from the search and rescue effort to the wider humanitarian response and to the essential reconstruction, early recovery, development response, that we have one clear, coordinated plan. And we have that plan. The team here has produced the Rapid Needs Assessment. This is data collected from across the humanitarian family to make sure that we are working on the most urgent priorities, which right now focus on shelter, on health, on WASH, food security, protection, education, and early recovery. The earthquakes have, of course, compounded existing needs— almost 8 million people already in need of humanitarian support across Venezuela. And let's be clear, and we discussed this in an excellent meeting yesterday with the Acting President, that everything we do on the humanitarian side must be time-limited and focused on the transition across to recovery, early recovery, rebuilding, reconstruction, and long-term development. So based on the assessments that we've made alongside the government— these are not just UN assessments, they are government assessments with the United Nations team— we are adding an addendum to the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan. And this is looking at the multisectoral needs of an additional 1.3 million people who face socioeconomic needs over the next 6 months who require life-saving support, and that bridge— again, the important point— the bridge to recovery. To deliver for that group, we require an additional $296 million to enable and implement the response, which comes on top of the $632 million that we originally appealed for at the start of the year. Now, donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them and I thank them. Already, based on the tracking system, the Venezuela response has received $300 million, and I appreciate every single dollar of that support, including $115 million received before the earthquake. This leaves us now with a $627 million funding gap. To address those urgent needs. And the OCHA-managed Venezuela Humanitarian Fund is a crucial tool for that response, which allows us to get the support that comes in to those frontline partners in a swift, coordinated, efficient way in line with the humanitarian reset. So finally, my key asks of of member states and donors online. Firstly, please translate the solidarity that we've heard, that we saw in those urban search and rescue teams, that we can feel on this call today into this practical support. Please get this in the reports you're writing out of this meeting to your leadership, that we do need that scaled-up response and that we do have a clear plan. $296 million needed to reach 1.3 million in socioeconomic need right now over 6 months. It's a time-bound plan. Secondly, we're asking you to invest in the essential basic services that provide life-sustaining support: health systems, medical needs, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, food assistance, education. As we make this pivot from search and rescue through humanitarian and into the vital, vital development response. And we are producing alongside the government the post-disaster needs assessment that will guide our work on that. Finally, and this is really key, we need a sustained donor engagement. We will work very closely with our friends across the IMF, across the the World Bank and the development community to ensure that this is a single plan with a clear transition. We will, of course, support the efforts to ensure sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets so vital to the response. International solidarity must not finish as we move through the search and rescue response and into this next phase. We have to show that we will answer the question from those mothers. Help is coming and it will be sustained and generous and flexible and predictable and alongside these clear needs of the people of Venezuela. Let's demonstrate now that global solidarity is as strong as ever, and that we will stay the course.

Thank you.

Back to Andriko.

Thank you very much, Tom.

I hope the comms are okay now. Can you hear us? Okay, thank you. Let me now invite Ms. Hadia Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equity, Preparedness and Crisis Management. Commissioner, you have the floor.

Thank you. I can't open the camera because it's not allowed by the host. So maybe you can help me to appear. Yeah, yeah, it's working. Thank you. Thank you very much. I hope you hear me.

We do, Hadja. We hear you loud and clear.

Perfect. So thank you again, Minister Iván Gil Pinto, Excellencies, and ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, dear Tom, for sharing your impression and your assessment as well. I would like to start by saying that maybe Venezuela may be an ocean away, but right now I can assure you that every Venezuelan is close to our hearts. And on behalf of European Union, I want to offer our deepest condolences and our full solidarity with everyone affected by these devastating earthquakes. In these difficult days, you can count on the EU's full support. And it's not only words, it's really on action. First, from the very first hours, we mobilized every tool And to help save lives and bring relief to the victims of this tragedy, we activated our Copernicus satellite service, giving rescuers emergency maps to coordinate their response on the ground. And when President Venezuela asked for help, we mobilized our European civil protection mechanism. We sent 12 urban search and rescue teams, 3 emergency medical teams that have already treated more than 600 patients, telecommunication support, and vital relief supplies. In total, 750 European responders have worked around the clock to save lives and bring hope to, to people caught in this tragedy. Our civil protection works hand in hand with our humanitarian aid. On 26th June, the European Union released €5 million in emergency humanitarian funding for healthcare, food, shelter, clean water, sanitation, and protection for those most in need. And I understand, Tom, that this is the rapid needs assessment that you've done. Shelter, hot wash, food are really needed right now. And that is on top of the €52 million the EU already committed this year to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and across the region. Last week, the first EU humanitarian airbridge flight landed in Caracas carrying 48 tons of relief supplies, and a second flight from Panama is expected to depart today with additional support. None of this would have been possible without our humanitarian partners on the ground acting with speed and flexibility. And We have to pay tribute to them, to every first responder, every humanitarian worker, every partner. Thank you. I think that their courage must be really underlined and acknowledged. As you rightly say, Minister, sadly, the window for search and rescue is closing. We are now moving into a broader humanitarian phase, and this means that we must make sure humanitarian organizations can reach everyone in need safely and without obstacles. Aid workers need visas, relief supplies need clear customs quickly, and aid workers must be able to move safely, and cash assistance must resume so families can start rebuilding their lives. In a disaster of this magnitude, coordination saves lives. And I want to thank Resident Coordinator Orça Dırtım and all the NGOs on the ground for their work. In just weeks, the response has evolved from those first emergency actions to organized transitional camps we now see in La Guaria. When international partners, local authorities, and communities work side by side, this is humanitarian action at its best. We reach more people faster and more effectively because disasters don't end when the ground stops shaking. Recovery starts the very next day alongside the life-saving work. This is part also of our humanitarian reset, but also of the humanitarian communication we released at the end of the month of May. I will travel to Venezuela soon, next week, and I will bring with me one very clear message for the Venezuelan people: the European Union, together with our humanitarian partners, will continue to support you for as long as needed. You can count on me and you can count on the European Union. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Commissioner. I will now invite His Excellency Musa Kulaçıkaya, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey. Excellency, you have the floor. Excellency, we can see the image, but we don't see you or hear you.

Thank you.

Go ahead, Excellency, go ahead. Excellency, you are still muted. We can't hear you. We can see you, but we can't hear you.

We get used to, to take back our tool.

Excellency, you'll have to unmute. Excellency, please unmute and continue. Go ahead, you have the floor. Excellency, um, we seem to be having some small technical issue here. While that is being sorted out, may I give the floor now to invite, uh, His Excellency Valeny Barreiros Wolff, Vice Minister of Civil Protection and Defense, Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, Brazil, and after which we will reconnect to you, Excellency. Thank you. You have the floor.

Meet the challenge. Okay.

Mr.

Chair.

We can hear you, go ahead.

And Secretary General Fletcher, Excellencies, dear colleagues, I thank the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for organization this briefing. And I thank you, Under-Secretary General Tom Fletcher, for briefing us directly from Caracas. A powerful signal of the United Nations commitment and off the ground. I also greet His Excellency Foreign Minister Ivan Gil Pinto, and in his person, I greet the people of Venezuela. On behalf solidarity with the people and the government of Venezuela. To the families of the victims of the earthquakes of the, uh, 24th of January, we extend our most sincere Condolences to the survivors and to the Venezuelan first response who acted from the very first minute without pause. Our profound respect. Hermanos venezolanos, No estamos solos. Brazil is proud to be part of the broad international support to our neighbor Venezuela. This collective response demonstrates the potential of international solidarity coordinated by the United Nations as We have heard from Under-Secretary General Fletcher. Under the leadership of President of the Republic and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, Brazil responded from the very first moment at the risk of in close coordination with the Venezuelan authorities. We sent an urban search and rescue team of 80 specialists from La Guardia operating in the field under the command of the Secretary of Civil Protection, and defense, in line with Insaragi, started. 5 Brazilian Air Force cargo planes and 2 cargo flights have transported 70 tons of humanitarian supplies, including medicines and other purification units. With the capacity to serve 30,000 people every day. A Brazilian Navy field hospital Type 2 is now operating in La Guaira. Brazil also invented, uh, ITI Space Instituto, National Institute for Space research via the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, providing satellite, satellite images from supporting their response. And Brazil has on the UNDECT supporting United Nations coordination. Mr. Chair, this strong response is no accident. It is a result of years of collective investment, preparation, and investment we must protect, especially now, as OCHA and the humanitarian community. Facing the challenges and obstacles, ongoing reform of the global age architectures, uh, Andy, it carries a special meaning for us after years, after years of carefully integration into, uh, Ocha networks. This very week, Brazil is proud to host in Foz do Iguaçu the Forte Insalaque meeting, the first ever organized in the America and the first in developing countries. The same global network Now, serving in Venezuela is presented here. We are learning lesson in real time and adapting for Foz do Iguaçu Declaration to make international research and rescue stronger, faster, and more inclusive. I can't In medicine, no better example of what multilateral action and South-South cooperation can deliver. As the response moves from search and rescue to humanitarian assistance and early recovery, Brazil The curse. We welcome the Edén on the Earth Quakes of the Venezuela Humanitarian Response Plan to the present today by the residents and humanitarian coordination. We invited all partners to support it, and we will report our contribution in the coming weeks. Mr. Chair, this response also confirms something we already know: local response are always the first to act, and they must be strong. Brazil believes the international cooperation works best when it reinforces local and national capacities from the very beginning, not only after the disaster HAPPADS, as local as possible, as international as needed. We count on OCHA international coordination to keep advancing this common goal together with the entire search and rescue community present here in Foz do Iguaçu. Venezuela can count on Brazil as a neighbor, as a partner, as a one, the chair of the Inter-American Regional Trade Organization.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Excellency Bélarez-Wolff, and again also appreciation very much to the government of Brazil for hosting the INSTARAG conference. And now I will give the floor to His Excellency Musa Kulaçıkaya, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye. Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Do you hear me now? Very well. Okay. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, dear participants. I would like to thank OCHA for organizing this timely and important meeting. It was with deep sorrow that we learned of the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24th. Allow me to convey once again our deepest condolences to all my Venezuelan colleagues. Our thoughts and hearts are with the friendly people of Venezuela. Türkiye remembers and remains grateful for the solidarity displayed by Venezuela during the earthquake of February 2023 in our country. We sent search and rescue team to Venezuela shortly after the earthquakes. Our team arrived after 60 hours of the earthquake. We remain in contact with our relevant institutions to extend further assistance. Our next shipment of humanitarian assistance by air will take place this weekend. Mr. Chair, having experienced the devastation of the 1999 and 2023 earthquake, earthquakes in Türkiye, we understand the pain that such disasters bring. From these earthquakes, we have learned costly lessons. I would like to share with you today some of the lessons learned. Following the devastating earthquake of 1999, Affecting an urbanized region of up to 30,000 square kilometers and around 20 million inhabitants, we saw the need for a unified and well-structured response to natural disasters. To this end, we implemented significant institutional reforms. The need for centralization of disaster management was Evidence. We established the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, in short AFAD, to combine the functions of several institutions which were previously under four different ministers. Preparedness, risk reduction, strong cooperation, extensive networks, and enhanced logistic infrastructure are essential elements to minimize the toll. We integrated risk reduction applications such as introducing seismic requirements into building codes, selecting seismically appropriate sites for construction, and building inspection systems into regulations. An important measure was the establishment of the National Disaster Insurance Institution and the introduction of mandatory earthquake insurance for housing units. The 1999 earthquake marked a turning point in stronger public awareness in our country, and we witnessed a significant rise in the number of civil society organizations active in the field of search and rescue, complementing the work of our official institutions. Furthermore, earthquake awareness and preparedness activities were integrated into public education. The double earthquakes of 2023 which affected a much larger area of 110,000 square kilometers with 14 million inhabitants, showed us that new measures were necessary. Stricter enforcement of existing building codes, identification of new building sites on bedrock and mountain slopes where possible, was implemented. We further observed that renovation efforts of all buildings in cities were being hindered due to issues such as insufficient financing, property ownership disputes, and incomplete executions of urban renewal plans. The 2023 earthquakes proved that proved the critical importance of uninterrupted search and rescue operations during the first 72 hours and improving rapid needs assessments through effective coordination with local and civil society actors. Strengthening resilience before disasters remained a key priority through stricter enforcement of building codes. Seismic retrofitting of existing buildings and protection of critical infrastructure for supply and evacuations, and the use of new technologies to enhance structural and digital resilience. Another key lesson learned has been the importance of urban transformation, which involves the voluntary rebuilding of seismically vulnerable buildings with support from the public funds. Municipalities lead implementation on the ground while the central government supports the process through financial incentives, policy guidance, and technical assistance to strengthen disaster resilience. Mr. Chair, developing new technologies has become a key priority. For example, the Through-the-Wall Radar System we produced is now standard equipment across our search and rescue teams, enabling the detection of signs of life beneath debris in disasters. It was deployed by our SAR teams and shared with other teams during the Venezuela earthquake response. These experiences combined demonstrated that disaster management must continuously evolve. We need to invest in preparedness, risk reduction, education, volunteerism, community-based resilience, relevant technology, and institutional capacity. Before I conclude, I would like to reiterate our readiness to share the extensive reach and expertise of our relevant institutions to meet the needs of the friendly and brotherly people of Venezuela. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Excellency. Let me now give the floor and invite Mr. Paul Seong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, Department of State of the United States. Mr. Seong. You have the floor.

All right, thank you. Thank you, uh, Foreign Minister, uh, for your leadership. Um, thank you to the fellow panelists for their briefings, uh, and for the, the contributions of the various countries. Uh, our thoughts and prayers are with those who are, um, with you and for, for those who are grieving lost ones. And we stand with Venezuela in this crisis. Our senior bureau official, Ryan Schrum, is unavailable to join. He's actually there now, you know, monitoring the sites and meeting partners and understanding just what we can do more. And so he's very much focused on this response, as is our entire leadership. And so, you know, in the wake of these devastating earthquakes, under the leadership of President Trump, Secretary Rubio, we're delivering a rapid and comprehensive response to save lives and provide the much-needed assistance to the Venezuelan people. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, really within you know, a couple hours, we issued a disaster declaration. We deployed a disaster response team, I believe, of 18 experts who can coordinate humanitarian— the response, who have the technical expertise, who have the civ-mil background. They're there on the ground leading our response. And determining what the needs are and how we could best help. We simultaneously deployed 4 United States urban search and rescue teams. So these teams swiftly set out, really less than 24 hours they're on the ground coordinating with counterparts, and this coordinated search and rescue was critical, as Undersecretary Fletcher Talked about more than, I think, 50 teams, 2,400 first responders, 200 canines really answered the call to save lives. And I think really an inspiring moment for us and millions of us here in the United States, and I'm sure around the world, was this moment of rescuing a baby from the rubble and her mother. And really signifying the value of every life and being reminded of why we do this work amid seemingly insurmountable hurdles and obstacles and really renewing our determination to endure alongside you all. And so that was a truly inspiring, poignant moment. And so we are committed here. We're working closely with OCHA before and throughout the response. And so, as many of you know, we have a landmark $3.8 billion contribution for OCHA's country-based pooled funds, and that goes towards the hyper-prioritized life-saving humanitarian assistance needs. So $100 million of this is going to go to the— is going to the Venezuela country-based pooled fund. And that's really being used for these humanitarian impacts that have resulted from the earthquakes, as well as some of the pre-existing humanitarian challenges that you all face. In addition to this $100 million, we've mobilized $200 million more, so a total of $300 million. And much of this is going to our partnerships with humanitarian organizations, with the private sector to make sure life-saving assistance gets into the hands of those most impacted by the earthquakes. So as this response now transitions from that acute search and rescue phase, we're working with multiple implementers on the ground to provide emergency shelter, health medical care, water sanitation hygiene protection, food and logistics. Already from our warehouses alone, this is the Department of State warehouses, we've delivered more than 400 metric tons of life-saving assistance like shelter kits, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, and more, more is on the way. We're also very grateful for our Department of War colleagues, so we've really leaned on them heavily to bolster logistics on the ground. Notably, they provided transportation for our urban search and rescue teams, They helped to rapidly assess the runway, which I know many of you are using, to enable repairs and really increase the throughput at Simone Boulevard Airport for relief operations. We're also really leaning on our American private sector. So we have a great partnership, a global MOU with Starlink, and we've really activated that MOU amid the telecommunications infrastructure destruction. So they've distributed hundreds of these free terminals for search and rescue teams, response, responding organizations, hospitals, partners. We're providing free— they're providing free satellite internet service to affected communities. And so having said all that though, as, as was noted at the front, end of this briefing, we recognize the importance of the early recovery and really addressing the longer-term needs of the Venezuelan people. And that includes shelter solutions, safe rebuilding and reconstruction, housing, utilities. So really integrating all of this for the critical recovery of those affected. And so we're very, very much focused on that. And look forward to continuing to work with you, not only on the humanitarian side, but on the recovery side. And so again, we're extremely proud to be your partner. We're proud of the many Americans who have come to surge assistance to help save lives. And we're grateful for all the other member states, the humanitarian organizations who have joined in this response, And so thank you and look forward to the discussion.

Thank you very much, Peter Siam. Again, my profound thanks to all our speakers for the updates, their assistance and solidarity and generous support that continues to come. Allow me to reiterate a couple of quick points as our panelists have highlighted. The humanitarian needs, as you have heard, remain significant following the earthquake. With many communities requiring continued assistance beyond the search and rescue phase. Our humanitarian partners are working very closely with the national authorities to coordinate these life-saving relief efforts. And again, a shout out of appreciation to those currently supporting and intending to send support to us. And on the ground, OCHA and the partners have undertaken a rapid humanitarian needs assessment, and I've shared their analysis and their appeal with you today. Rapid, flexible, predictable funding will be essential to sustain the response in the weeks and the months ahead as we move into resilience and early recovery, and your continued solidarity and coordinated engagement will remain critical to supporting the people affected. Now let me open the floor to the member state interventions, and I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative from France. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Excellency. Muy buenas tardes. Quisiera primero decir unas palabras en español porque a pesar de ser ministra francesa encargada de la francofonía, también soy latinoamericana y quería primero expresarle en nombre del gobierno francés Toda nuestra absoluta solidaridad con la situación, el drama que está viviendo Venezuela ahora mismo, y decirle que hemos escuchado de manera muy clara el llamado que han hecho. Entonces quería reiterárselo y decírselo en español. Ministers, Excellencies, representatives of the United Nations, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for hosting this conversation. As I just said in Spanish, France reiterates its profound solidarity with the people of Venezuela. Our thoughts, all of our thoughts are with the victims, with their loved ones, and with all of those that have been affected by this disaster. We want to commend the mobilization of the humanitarian actors and particularly of the United Nations and all of the non-governmental organizations, um, which are emergency responders, and of course of the international community as a whole, in line with the needs that have been expressed by the Venezuelan authorities. At the request of Venezuelan authorities, France has delivered 44 tons of emergency humanitarian assistance from Guadeloupe with the support of the French Red Cross. This shipment, which arrived in Venezuela yesterday, includes emergency shelter supplies, solar lamps, and hygiene kits. It was handed over to the Venezuelan Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies. France has also deployed a team of 85 rescue personnel, which are working alongside with Venezuelan authorities in search, rescues, and debris clearance operation. Um, we of course have a team that is on the ground. We have a French community also on the ground with whom we have liaised, um, over the past years. And I just wanted to say really briefly but really wholeheartedly that France remains fully mobilized in support of the Venezuelan people and will continue to stand by them throughout this difficult time, in keeping with the solidarity that unites our two nations and in a multilateral response. So I thank you all, and again, I thank you for organizing this conversation.

Thank you very much, Excellency. I now give the floor to Egypt. You have the floor.

Hello, can you hear me? Yes, thank you, Mr. Enrique. Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Excellencies, at the outset, Egypt wishes to express its appreciation to the OCHA for convening this timely briefing, which provides an important opportunity to address the humanitarian consequences of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela and to discuss ways to strengthen the international response in support of the affected population. Egypt extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the government and the brotherly people of Venezuela following the tragic loss of lives and the extensive damage caused by the earthquakes. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish all those injured a swift and full recovery. We are particularly grateful to hear from His Excellency Minister Pinto the shocking and saddening details, and we strongly support the efforts undertaken by the Venezuelan authorities in responding to this difficult situation and supporting— affected communities. Mr. Chairman, Egypt affirms its full solidarity with Venezuela during this painful humanitarian ordeal, and Egypt remains committed to standing alongside the Venezuelan people in this challenging moment. In this regard, Egypt has remained in close contact with Venezuelan side. His Excellency Minister Badr Abdel-Atti held a telephone a conversation with His Excellency Minister Pinto, during which he conveyed the condolences and solidarity of Egyptian government and people, and Egypt readiness to provide all possible forms of support and assistance to help alleviate the humanitarian impact of this disaster. Egypt reiterates its steadfast commitment to multilateral humanitarian action, and its continued cooperation with the United Nations and international partners in addressing humanitarian challenges. In this line, uh, uh, we— Egypt has initiated the preparation to dispatch a shipment of humanitarian assistance to Venezuela soon. We remain ready to consider any requests or additional needs communicated by the Venezuelan government and will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to support relief and recovery efforts. Mr. Chairman, the devastating impact of natural disasters reminds us of the shared vulnerabilities of our interconnected world and the importance of international solidarity. Egypt, based on its own experience in addressing various challenges and supporting affected Communities fully understand the profound humanitarian and developmental consequences that such disasters can have. This is precisely why collective action and genuine cooperation among member states remain essential. No country should face the aftermath of a major disaster alone. The international community must continue to strengthen mechanisms for humanitarian coordination and, uh, coordination, uh, support national efforts and ensure that affected populations receive timely and effective assistance. In closing, we once again express our solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela and wish success to all those working tirelessly on the ground to assist the affected communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Excellency. And the next speakers will be the distinguished representative from Hungary, followed by Uruguay and Spain. Hungary, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. It's just one second. I just want to use my video. Can you see me?

Yeah.

Yeah, thank you very much. First of all, on behalf of the Hungarian government, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the people of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and to those who have lost their loved ones in the earthquake on 24th of June. The international community has a responsibility to stand beside those whose life have been gravely impacted by the catastrophe and to offer our support to those in need. The Hungarian government is in close contact with the Venezuelan authorities and close cooperates with the European Union's Emergency Response Coordination Center in providing the necessary and prompt humanitarian aid. Our government has decided to send medicines, medical devices, and healthcare equipment to Venezuela worth approximately $806,000. Besides, we provide $323,000 financial contribution to ease the humanitarian situation in the earthquake-torn regions. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the humanitarian aid shipment provided by Hungarian charity organizations. The aid supplies plan to hand over to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The earthquake also hit the Hungarian diaspora in Venezuela, which has since after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution formed an integral part of the local community. One person died and several members of the Hungarian community have lost their homes and livelihood. Therefore, the Hungarian government is providing $161,000 to the Hungarian House in Caracas, which has recently become a place of refuge to the homeless families and helps the relief efforts. Hereby, I would like to thank the OCHA to organize today's briefing, which is very helpful in analyzing the situation on the ground and to coordinate international efforts to back the Venezuelan authorities after the devastating disaster. Thank you for your kind attention.

Thank you very much. I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of Uruguay. You have the floor, sir. Uruguay, you have the floor. Okay, it appears we are having some difficulty connecting the representative from Uruguay. Let me move on to Spain and we plan to get Uruguay next.

Thank you so much. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Yes, I think you cannot see me yet, but hopefully— okay, very good. Here I am. Councillor Ivan Gil, Under-Secretary Fletcher, dear Tom, Excellencies, let me thank the UN system and OCHA in particular for convening this briefing and the efforts on the ground supporting all humanitarian actors responding to these devastating earthquakes. Thank you for the figures as well, which will be very helpful in the months, weeks and months to come to structure our response. Allow me to express Spain's deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and our solidarity with those affected. As humanitarians, we save lives no matter what, no matter where. But I have to say, Spain, given the multiple links with Venezuela, this feels very personal, not least because 36 of our nationals have already been confirmed as having lost their lives. Spain stands with the people and the authorities of Venezuela and supports the effort led by the authorities along the international community to respond to this, this tragedy. I was myself on the ground in La Guaira last, last week with our rescue teams. And I can echo the words of Under-Secretary Fletcher on the desperation and the size of the disaster. But I also came back with two feelings as well. One, the immense gratitude and welcome attitude of the Venezuelan people. We were received with clapping from everyone, and we were bid farewell also with clapping and recognition by everyone. And also the resolve to act, all of us together. I think there is a strong response on the ground, and tribute goes to the first responders. And to Ocha and Gianluca that is part of this call as well. From the earliest hours of the emergency, we responded, we stepped up, we coordinated the deployment of USAR teams. 151 of our men and women have been deployed, 25 dogs, all of which decorated by, um, Canciller Iván Gil, and thank you for that as well. Um, these teams have been working. The moment is now switching to multi-sectoral support for those affected, and that is why For 3 days now, we have our EMT, our Emergency Medical Team, our field hospital deployed in Parque del Este in Caracas, supporting the Venezuelan health system. This deployment is part of a broader Team Europe effort. It's part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and also of the EMT initiative of the UN and the WHO and OPS that is so valuable. We have already committed €6 million through different channels. We have also—

we are proud contributors to the SERF.

Thank you, Undersecretary Fletcher, for underlying that. It is important to have flexible funding to respond to emergencies like this one. We have done the same with the DREF at IFRC, that is a key partner, and we have already channeled before the $6 million, $2.8 million through OCHA, ICRC, and UNHCR, and we thank them for the flexibility to direct these funds to the response. Excellency, this response demonstrates the value of international cooperation and solidarity. In the direction of the communities affected by this tragedy. As the focus gradually shifts from emergency relief to recovery and reconstruction, this sustained international effort will remain essential. Spain will stand up for that as well. The people of Venezuela have shown remarkable resilience in the face of this tragedy, but the collective responsibility is to ensure that they are not left alone to face the consequences. Spain will continue to stand alongside Venezuela, working with the authorities, the United Nations, and humanitarian and development partners in due course as well to support development— sorry, recovery, reconstruction, and renew hope for the communities affected. Thank you very much. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. We have quite a list of speakers, so if I may ask your indulgence to keep your comments to 2 minutes so that we can try to accommodate as many speakers as possible. We have India next, and then hopefully we will have the technical issue sorted out with Uruguay. So the distinguished delegate from India, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. I hope I'm audible. Um, Honorable Minister of Venezuela, Undersecretary General Ocha, thank you for organizing this briefing. Let me begin by conveying our deepest heartfelt condolences from the government and people of India to the families of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela who lost their loved ones in these devastating twin earthquakes of June 24th.. We also pray for the swift and complete recovery of the thousands who are injured in this tragic disaster. In times of acute human suffering, geographic boundaries recede. Guided by our foundational civilization philosophy of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, which affirms that the world is one single family, India believes that global challenges demand collective, swift, and empathetic action. True to this spirit, India responded immediately to the tragedy by launching Operation Amistad. On June 26th, Indian relief missions embarked on a 14,300-kilometer journey to deliver immediate life-saving assistance. Two aircraft were dispatched carrying a 41-member specialized team of rescue personnel and medical personnel to reach search— to support search, rescue, and emergency care efforts. Our humanitarian consignment delivered 30 tons of relief supplies and 6 tons of medical, medical equipment and medicines. To provide rapid, self-reliant medical assistance in the most affected areas, we also deployed an Indian Army field hospital unit equipped with disaster relief pallets alongside two advanced Bhishma portable field hospitals. Whether responding to seismic disasters or geopolitical crises, India's humanitarian policy remains steadfastly people-centric, transcending political considerations. And looking beyond Immediate relief. India is also proud to host the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in New Delhi, supporting global efforts to build systemic, long-term, climate-resilient, and disaster-proof critical infrastructure across vulnerable nations. Let me end by saying India stands shoulder to shoulder with the government and people of Venezuela during this challenging phase. We will remain in close coordination with Venezuelan authorities and stand fully prepared to provide further assistance as the situation requires. Thank you again.

Thank you very much. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative from Uruguay. You have the floor, sir. Uruguay, you have a flow.

Do you listen?

Yes.

Hello, this is Smita from Uchajini.

We can hear you.

Welcome.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Sorry for this delay. Permitame saludar al señor ministro de relaciones exteriores y al pueblo venezolano a través suyo. Uruguay stands with the people of Venezuela during this difficult time. We also appreciate this timely briefing and call by OCHA and commend the efforts of the United Nations system and its humanitarian partners in coordinating international assistance in Venezuela in response to this devastating earthquake. Earthquakes of June 24th. We, we are grateful for this, this support as well to national efforts to addressing urgent humanitarian needs, including search and rescue efforts, emergency medical assistance, shelter, public measures, and support for the dignified management and identification of victims. Uruguay reiterates the importance of sustained international solidarity to support relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts. Uruguay already sent its first donation to Venezuela on 4th of July through an Uruguayan Air Force aircraft, including 15 tons of medical supplies, hygiene kits, sterilization materials, powdered milk, and nutritional supplements. Prior to the departure of the flight, more than 1,200 volunteers took part in national collection efforts— in nationwide collection efforts, receiving, sorting, and preparing donations for that shipment. Uruguay continues to coordinate with the Venezuelan authorities and relevant national institutions to contribute with additional humanitarian assistance, prioritizing the most urgent needs of the communities hardest hit by the earthquakes. Now, if you allow me, in Uruguay's capacity as chair of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC, we would like to refer to the statement by this community, in which CELAC expressed its solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. CELAC deeply regretted the loss of human lives, conveyed sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and extended its solidarity to all affected individuals and communities. CELAC also expressed its full support for the extensive rescue, relief, and recovery efforts currently underway, and reaffirmed the willingness of its member states to contribute in every possible way, both individually and collectively, to support these efforts. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor now to the distinguished representative from Colombia, followed by China, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands. You have the floor, Colombia.

Good morning to all.

Can you hear me?

Thank you.

Permitame antes que todo hacer un saludo en español a los colegas hermanos del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Venezuela. Señor Ministro Gil, sabe que usted siempre cuenta con nosotros y cuenta con la solidaridad de Colombia. En estos momentos. Un saludo fraternal. At the outset, Colombia expresses the deepest solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela. We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and stand with the thousands of people who have been injured, displaced, or otherwise affected. The scale of this disaster underscores the importance of a timely, coordinated, and effective humanitarian response. Guided by the principles of solidarity, Colombia responded immediately at the request of the Venezuelan authorities through our National Disaster Risk Management System. We sent a UN-classified USAR Code 1 search and rescue team of 63 proud Colombians that helped and joined hands with Venezuelans and other teams to support the efforts of search and rescue. And we have adapted our assistance through the deployment of an emergency medical team, a field hospital, medical supplies, technical expertise, and consular support. Looking ahead, it will be essential to ensure clear, coordinated, and transparent channels for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Well-defined pathways for donations and international support will help avoid duplication, facilitate logistics, and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. Close coordination among national authorities, the United Nations humanitarian organizations, and contributing partners will remain fundamental. Colombia reaffirms its commitment to continue working with the government of Venezuela, the United Nations regional partners, and the wider international community to strengthen coordination and ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered effectively in accordance with identify needs, and with the dignity of affected populations at its center. I thank you, sir.

Thank you very much, Colombia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative from China. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, honorable ministers, USG, Mr. Fletcher. We thank OCHA for organizing this crucial and timely briefing. We extend our deepest condolences heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their grieving families. We also highly commend the UN humanitarian system and all frontline aid workers for their relentless life-saving efforts. The moment we learned of the disaster, our government immediately moved to act. President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Acting President Madame Rokhaya Rodríguez. We have provided cash assistance to Venezuela and committed 100 billion RMB material aid to support its immediate relief and long-term reconstruction. 4 days ago, the first batch of emergency supplies, including power generators, water purifiers, tents, and blankets, were airlifted to Caracas. The remaining assistance is being expedited for shipment. The Red Cross Society of China has provided $300,000 to their Venezuelan counterparts. The Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese communities in Venezuela also actively contributed critically needed engineering equipment and medical supplies, and also exemplified assembled teams to assist in search and rescue operations. Moving forward, China will continue to stand by Venezuela, providing further assistance tailored to the evolving situation on the ground. We firmly believe that under the leadership of the Venezuelan government and backed by global solidarity, the resilient people of Venezuela will overcome this crisis and rebuild stronger and better than before. I thank you.

Thank you very much, China. I give the floor to the distinguished representative from Zimbabwe. Have the floor, Zimbabwe. You have the floor.

Go ahead.

We seem to be having a technical glitch with Zimbabwe. In the meantime, let me give the floor to the Netherlands. You have the floor.

Hello, uh, thank you, Chair. Um, Thank you, Mr. Fletcher, and thank you, Excellency Minister Pinto. On behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, let me begin by expressing our deep sympathy and solidarity with the people of Venezuela affected by this devastating earthquake. Behind the figures and operational responses are real people, families who have lost their homes, people worried about their loved ones, and communities facing great hardship. In moments like these, solidarity really matters, not only as an international community but also as a neighbor. What happens in Venezuela matters to us, not only from a humanitarian perspective, but also because of our close link with the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Following the request from the Venezuelan authorities, we acted swiftly to support the humanitarian responses and made €2 million available for the deployment of the Dutch Urban Search and Rescue Team. They flew in with 64 responders and 8 search dogs. And beyond the search and rescue, a Dutch naval vessel operating in the Caribbean region has delivered urgently needed supplies, including food and drinking water. The Dutch Relief Alliance, in partnership of some NGOs and their local organization, announced a €3 million operation to help the affected communities recover in the next 6 months. And we have also contributed through the Red Cross movement, including support from our Aruba Red Cross, as well as €700,000 contributed to the IVC Venezuela Emergency appeal. And in this regard, we also very much welcome the $15 million allocation from the CERF. So thank you, Mr. Fletcher, of which Netherlands is currently the largest donor of this fund. And it also gives our commitment to the flexible funding also for partners, for UNICEF, WFP, and others that are active on the ground. Hopefully these efforts demonstrate our Kingdom's solidarity with the people of Venezuela and remain very committed to support a coordinated humanitarian response together with our partners. And also, we applaud all the aid workers on the ground and hoping they can do their work safely. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Netherlands. Zimbabwe, you have the floor. Regrettably, we seem to still have a technical difficulty with connecting with Zimbabwe. Colleagues, we are, um, 9 minutes over time, so what we would do is, in the interest of time, um, I will now go on to our humanitarian partners, and I regret I will not be able to accommodate all the sister agencies, UN sister agencies, and our international, national NGOs. But I will give the floor to the Venezuela INGO Forum, and then I will wrap up in the interest of time. So Venezuela INGO Forum, you have the floor, ma'am.

Go ahead.

Thank you very much. My name is Selena Vicario, and I'm part of steering committee of the INGO Forum in Venezuela. And Country Director for NRC Venezuela. Thank you, Chair. On behalf of the ING Forum, which groups over 30 INGOs in Venezuela, I would like to thank you, OCHA, the authorities, the humanitarian partners, donors, and member states for convening this discussion at the critical moment. The earthquakes have created a major humanitarian emergency on top of an already severe and underfunded crisis. A few days ago, I met a community leader living under a makeshift shelter in La Guaira. She had lost her home and was living in extremely difficult conditions. Yet, the first thing she did when we sat down to speak was thank us for being there and listening to her community. That moment captured something I have witnessed repeatedly in Venezuela. The extraordinary, extraordinary solidarity of Venezuelans. But solidarity alone will not be enough for what comes next. As we move from rescue and immediate relief to recovery, I would like to highlight 3 points. First, new funding must be additional and flexible. The needs that existed before the earthquakes have not disappeared. Healthcare funding should not come at the expense of existing humanitarian needs. Flexible funding will allow frontline responders to adapt quickly to rapidly evolving needs. Second, we need inclusive coordination and decision-making. Effective assessment, planning, and responses require the meaningful participation of local organizations, national NGOs, international NGOs, and UN agencies. And in coordination with Venezuelan authorities. The more inclusive the process, the stronger the response will be. Third, we should build on the capacities that already exist in Venezuela. Local communities, local organizations, and long-standing humanitarian actors bring knowledge, relationships, and assets that are critical for reaching affected populations. New support should reinforce and complement this extensive capacity. No single actor can respond to a crisis this scale alone, but together, through inclusive coordination, complementary partnership, and sustained international support, we can help Venezuelan families move from surviving this disaster to rebuilding their lives with dignity. The international humanitarian organization comprised of the INGO Forum remain committed to working as we always do in coordination with the authorities, complementing their efforts and guided by the principle of neutrality and impartiality. Thank you very much. Muchas gracias.

Muchas gracias, uh, Ms. Vicario. And, uh, let me now, uh, close the list again with my profound apologies to the remaining colleagues, uh, on, on the speaker's list. Um, Excellencies, distinguished representatives, and colleagues, As we come to the close of today's briefing, first, let me thank you sincerely for all— first of all, to all our speakers for their valuable contributions, to all the member states and partners for their active participation and engagement. Today's discussion has reinforced several messages, but let me just look at the three top-line messages that have come across. First, the earthquakes have resulted in thousands of casualties, generated significant humanitarian needs, and require rapid, coordinated, and sustained response. This is reiterated by all the colleagues we have heard. While we are encouraged by the support, the generous support received to date, with $324.2 million mobilized, this is less than half the funding required under the original Venezuela Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. As Ms. Vicario reminded us, these remain also the needs of the country. And today, the addendum to the humanitarian response plan calls for an additional $295 million, which is critically needed to ensure life-saving assistance for the 1.3 million people for the upcoming 6 months. We therefore urge all donors to provide additional timely flexible contributions to sustain this response. Secondly, The close collaboration between the government of Venezuela, humanitarian organizations, member states, and regional partners remains essential to ensure existing— that assistance reaches the most affected. And again, appreciating the coordination and the solidarity we have seen already. The response continues to operate, as was discussed, in a complex setting, and ensuring coordination dialogue is critical to ensuring, again, preserving access, humanitarian assistance going to those most in need, maintaining trust, and enabling actors to deliver assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles. Lastly, dear colleagues, continued international solidarity will be vital as the response evolves. As many speakers have highlighted, as we move from the search and rescue to the critical humanitarian response for basic needs that needs to be supported, It is equally important that in tandem, the early recovery and response planning and resourcing continues. This disaster clearly needs a longer-term commitment well after this initial phase of search and rescue. Beyond financial support and sustained political engagement, coordinated international action will be essential to help humanitarian partners meet the urgent needs and adapt to the evolving needs on the ground. To this end, OCHA will remain committed to work with all partners to ensure that humanitarian assistance is coordinated, principled, and reaches all in need. And again, ensuring the linkage with the resilience and recovery efforts that are essential at this point of time as well. Once again, Excellencies, distinguished guests, I thank you for your participation and your continued partnership and solidarity with the people of Venezuela. I wish you all a pleasant rest of the day. Thank you very much.