Plane departs Belgium on humanitarian mission to Venezuela
An A400M aircraft took off from Melsbroek military airport at around 9.00 on Tuesday, bound for Venezuela as part of a joint humanitarian mission by Belgium and Luxembourg.
Venezuela was hit by a double earthquake last week that has destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed more than 1,700 people, a death toll that is expected to rise. Thousands of people are missing.
Luxembourg staff will be responsible for delivering the supplies from Tuesday’s flight, which is heading to Simón Bolívar Airport, near the capital, Caracas. The pilot is Belgian and the supplies being transported come from both countries.
The Belgian contribution consists mainly of tents, intended to house people whose homes have been destroyed or to serve as workspaces for rescue teams on the ground, while Luxembourg is sending generators and tents. Two experts from Luxembourg are also on board, from the Humanitarian Intervention Team of the country’s fire and rescue service.
Belgium sent an expert to the scene last Saturday. The deployment of further experts and equipment is curently under discussion, depending on the needs expressed by the Venezuelan authorities, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
A volunteer distributes aid in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, after the region was hit by powerful twin earthquakes © PHOTO FEDERICO PARRA / AFP
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