Chinese President Xi offers assistance as death toll rises to 589.

On Friday, Alexander Yanez, Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, expressed gratitude for the displays of assistance provided to his country following Wednesday’s earthquakes, which have so far left 589 people dead, 4,300 injured, and 157 missing.

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“All forms of material and moral solidarity are essential in these critical moments,” he said from Geneva, Switzerland, during a session in which UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and other diplomats reiterated their condolences.

“The first 72 hours are critical to saving lives. Therefore, search, rescue and recovery operations have been intensified, expanded with the international support that is arriving in our country,” the Bolivarian diplomat said.

So far, Venezuela has received support from 16 countries that have sent 25 search-and-rescue teams, totaling more than 1,000 specialists, to help people trapped beneath the rubble.

On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his condolences to Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez over the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which primarily affected La Guaira, a coastal state that has been declared a “disaster zone.”

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned those killed in the earthquakes and expressed sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and those injured.

“China stands ready to provide assistance to Venezuela in disaster relief and reconstruction,” Xi stated and expressed confidence that, under the leadership of the Venezuelan government, the population will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.

His message follows an announcement made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who confirmed the deaths of two Chinese citizens in the earthquakes and said that his country and the Chinese Red Cross would send emergency humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.

Guo had already conveyed Beijing’s condolences to Caracas on Thursday and said at the time that China was prepared to provide assistance in accordance with the needs of the Caribbean nation, although Chinese authorities have not yet provided details regarding the aid.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – Xinhua

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