The European Union has announced €5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for Venezuela, aimed at addressing the immediate needs of affected areas following recent earthquakes.

At the same time, a humanitarian air bridge is being set up from Copenhagen at the beginning of the week, transporting around 50 tonnes of essential supplies such as shelter materials, water and sanitation equipment, and educational materials.

Within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, 11 Member States and 1 participating country have offered search and rescue teams, medical units, and telecommunications support, while a total of 14 countries are contributing personnel and technical assistance. In addition, the Copernicus satellite service has been activated to map the affected areas, producing 25 maps and 13 images already used for operational purposes.

The new €5 million funding comes on top of €52 million already allocated this year to address the humanitarian consequences of the socio-economic crisis in Venezuela.

EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib stressed that the Union remains committed to providing immediate support to those affected, using all available tools and demonstrating European solidarity.