The Asian Hopetree, a non-profit organization, has been providing medical aid in Venezuela for two weeks following a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The organization is now appealing for medication donations.
Dr. Seo Jeong-seong, chairman of Asian Hopetree and vice president of the Korean Medical Association, has been leading volunteer efforts in Venezuela since June 25.
Dr. Seo is collaborating with Venezuelan doctors in La Guaira state, the area most severely impacted by the quake.
Despite more than two weeks passing since the disaster, the situation on the ground remains chaotic.
In La Guaira, rescue operations continue, but it has heard no reports of survivors from the rubble, Dr. Seo explained. Families of the missing, having lost hope of finding loved ones alive, are now camping near rescue sites, desperate to at least recover the bodies.
He added that the Venezuelan government’s lackluster response to rescue and recovery efforts has angered many citizens. International aid has been slow to reach affected areas. With temperatures soaring above 30°C (about 86°F), high humidity, and sporadic downpours, displaced residents face dire shortages of clean water and sanitation. The risk of disease outbreaks is a growing concern.
To support Dr. Seo’s mission, the Gwangju Medical Association contributed 20 million KRW (about 13,280 USD), while Asian Hopetree representatives and local businesses donated 10 million KRW (about 6,640 USD). The Gwangju Christian Hospital Mission Association and Hospital Doctors’ Association also pitched in with 3 million KRW (about 2,000 USD) and 1 million KRW (about 664 USD) respectively.
Dr. Seo stressed that La Guaira, which suffered another major earthquake 27 years ago, is critically short on medicines and basic necessities. He implores the people of Gwangju to demonstrate their spirit of compassion and solidarity for Venezuelans in crisis.
For the past 12 years, Dr. Seo has also been providing medical care at the Gwangju Clinic in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province. This clinic operates with support from the Gwangju City Council, which established a special ordinance to fund its activities.