After the devastating impact of the two strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that shook the central-northern and central-western strip of Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, the Catholic Church, through the social pastoral, Cáritas de Venezuela, has initiated an immediate emergency deployment under the premise of coordinating support and safely channeling citizen solidarity.

Given the severity of the structural damage and the regrettable toll of lives. lost, injured people and a panorama of destruction that is still being evaluated by the competent authorities, the National Government decreed the State of National Emergency for the Capital District, La Guaira and the states of Falcón, Carabobo, Yaracuy, Aragua, Miranda, Trujillo and Lara. In response, national Cáritas has activated an action plan focused on the massive collection of essential supplies and donations to those outside the country.

Activation of the National Collection Center and Diocesan Points

The main axis of articulation of this humanitarian response will be the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela, located in Montalbán (Caracas). This space has been formally enabled as the National Collection Center, operating from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Citizens, companies and institutions can collaborate as a priority with drinking water, non-perishable food and essential medicines

Similarly, diocesan Caritas throughout the country will progressively open their own collection centers as local evaluations require it, work that they are permanently channeling to the National Caritas.

According to the statement issued on the morning of the 25th, the national structure of Cáritas, accompanies and responsibly awaits the guidance that emanates from the Humanitarian Coordination bodies, both ecclesiastical and inter-institutional, to articulate a response that is timely, orderly and truly supportive.

A call for safe and economical donation

Likewise, the institution recalled that it keeps its national and international bank accounts available to receive financial contributions. These funds will be administered by the technical teams in the territory to precisely address the needs revealed by the damage diagnoses in the coming hours and days, as the damage assessment progresses.

The data for donation from abroad are as follows:

Beneficiary: A.C. Cáritas de Venezuela

RIF: J-30485697-0

Email: caritasvenezuela@gmail.com

Account in Dollars (USD)
Bank Name - Pacific National Bank
Bank Address - 1390 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Routing Number / ABA - 066011350
Bank Swift - PACIUS3M
Account Name - ASOC. C. CARITAS DE VENEZUELA
Account Address - AV PAEZ DEL PARAISO EDIF CONFERENCIA EPI VEN PISO PB LOCAL S/N URB MONTALBAN II CARACAS 1020 VENEZUELA
Account Number - 1437054

Account in Euros (EUR)
Beneficiary - A.C.CARITAS DE VENEZUELA
Address of the Beneficiary - Av. Teheran, 200 meters from the UCAB fte Urb J.P. II Caracas Venezuela
Bank - BANK IM BISTUM ESSEN eG Bank Address Gildehofstr. 2, 45127 Essen (Germany)
IBAN - DE98 3606 0295 0035 1530 12
Konto Nr - 35153012
BIC - GENODED1BBE

Every gesture of help, no matter how small it may seem, becomes a tangible sign of God's closeness to his town. May the love of the merciful God reach each Venezuelan family with its peace and comfort, and may this hour of trial also become an opportunity to rediscover ourselves as brothers.

Read the full statement issued by Cáritas Venezuela, by clicking on Download file (button below).

With information from Cáritas de Venezuela