Venezuela received 1,800 prefabricated homes from the People’s Republic of China on Saturday, October 31, to assist families affected by the double earthquake of Wednesday, June 24. Additionally, 87 pieces of machinery were transported from the Asian giant to help advance the cleanup efforts in La Guaira, the region hardest hit by the earthquakes.

The announcement was made by the Head of State, Delcy Rodríguez, who thanked the President of China, Xi Jinping, for all the support.

“I thank President Xi Jinping, his government, and the people of China for this very important aid, which is a demonstration of the cooperation between our countries,” he said before the satellite transmission to Puerto Cabello, where the equipment arrived.

Housing to decongest the camps

During the event, Delcy Rodríguez indicated that the 1,800 homes will help in the process of decongesting camps.

“So that families can go to a place, a safe space, a single-family space, with privacy,” he said during the ship’s disembarkation.

Minutes later, the national leader highlighted that the homes the country received this Saturday “will provide shelter and support to those who lost their homes in the earthquake and feel the solidarity of China with our people, they feel the hand of China also in this reconstruction process.”

The president announced that 5,400 emergency bunk beds and 1,800 electric ventilators also arrived from the Asian giant.

In a satellite video call with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Venezuela, Lan Hu , President Delcy Rodríguez asked the diplomat to convey to President Xi Jinping and his government the gratitude of the Venezuelan people for the important aid.

87 machines for collecting debris in La Guaira

“We are receiving 87 pieces of heavy machinery that will allow us to move much faster in the process of clearing debris,” the national leader announced before giving the satellite pass to Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state.

In that context, he specified that to date, 63% of the debris has been collected in La Guaira. He stated that he hopes that with the arrival of the equipment, the coastal state will be able to welcome the new year with the area completely clear.

More than five thousand tons of material

More than 5,000 tons of machinery, prefabricated houses, and supplies arrived at the Puerto Cabello dock from the Asian nation, as reported by the sectoral vice president of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, from the site.

After mentioning that the shipment was delivered in record time, he detailed that the shipment included 87 yellow line firefighting machines and “1,800 housing kits ready for immediate assembly anywhere that has the necessary infrastructure.” He added that Venezuela also received equipment for all aspects of the Dignified and Safe Clearance Plan.

Collection of remains would increase to 33,000 tons per day Sectoral Vice President Juan José Ramírez described that with the incorporation of the received equipment, the collection of daily traces would increase from 21,000 tons to 33,000 tons.

“With the addition of this set of machinery to the forces we have in the state of La Guaira for the collection and removal of remains, we would be talking about the incorporation of 8 or 9 work fronts, which would represent an additional 12,000 tons of collection. If we add that to the 14 fronts we already have, which represent an average of 21,000 tons per day, we would be talking about a collection of 33,000 tons of material,” he emphasized.

Sincere friendship

The ambassador of the Asian country in Venezuela, Lan Hu, reaffirmed the sincere friendship of the People’s Republic of China, a country of 1.4 billion inhabitants, with Venezuela.

“We are very convinced that, under your leadership and with the participation of all sectors—government, private and public sectors, as well as the international community—Venezuela will be reborn as a much more prosperous country very soon,” Lan Hu stated.

Delcy Rodríguez immediately intervened, noting that Venezuela is very excited about the humanitarian aid, “which I know the Venezuelan people appreciate and are grateful for because it allows us to have this cooperation in this process of profound transformation and recovery.”

“We want to make him a much better ambassador,” he emphasized.

Reiterating goals

Delcy Rodríguez reiterated her hope that by the end of the year, no families will remain in the camps. In this regard, she told Ambassador Lan Hu, “You and your government are helping us achieve this profoundly humanitarian goal for Venezuelan families.”

“On behalf of Venezuela, thank you very much for this donation, and I know that we will continue to strengthen our bonds of friendship and cooperation, as we have done in recent years. I know that the future between our countries is one of fruitful relations. Thank you, Ambassador Lan Hu, and thank you, Government of China,” he said before concluding the ceremony.