Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government, has called on anyone wanting to help communities hit by last week’s earthquakes in Venezuela to donate through a special Red Cross account. He said this is the most dependable way to make sure assistance reaches the people most affected without delay. The appeal was made on Wednesday afternoon during a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Autonomy on Avenida do Mar. Speaking to CMTV, Albuquerque said he has been following the situation in Venezuela closely through contact with counsellors from the Madeiran communities. He said the conditions in La Guaira are severe, with around 200 buildings destroyed in the central area, thousands of lives lost, and many people still living among the ruins as the health situation worsens. He also said Rui Abreu, Chief of Staff of the President of the Government, left this morning for Venezuela and will be supported by Madeira community advisors after a journey expected to take a day and a half. Albuquerque added that the Regional Government increased emergency support funds for Venezuelan associations by 150 thousand euros, and noted that the death toll currently stands at 2,295.
