The first Greek (Hellenic) Red Cross rescue team has arrived in Venezuela and begun operations in areas devastated by recent earthquakes, bringing Greek volunteer Samaritan-Rescuers into the country’s urgent humanitarian response.
The seven-member team reached Venezuela with rescue and medical equipment and moved into the affected areas to support search-and-rescue work, first aid, and assistance for survivors living in temporary shelters. The volunteers are working in coordination with the Venezuelan Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Greek Orthodox community in Venezuela, and other Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies active in the country.
The Greek Red Cross said it is carrying out the mission with its own resources, despite the long distance from Greece and the difficult conditions on the ground. It described the deployment as the first and only organized humanitarian mission from Greece to Venezuela after the deadly earthquakes.
The wider Greek Red Cross mission includes two seven-member teams of volunteer rescuers. They traveled with specialized equipment, including cutting tools, rescue ropes, drones, and K9 search-and-rescue dogs.
The Greek volunteers are working with the Venezuelan Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Greek Orthodox community in Venezuela, and other Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies operating in the country.
Their mission comes at a critical moment. Rescue teams continue to search damaged areas, while humanitarian organizations shift more resources toward emergency medical care, shelter, sanitation, and support for families who lost their homes.
Venezuela continues to struggle with the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24. The twin quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit within seconds of each other and caused widespread destruction in Caracas and the coastal region of La Guaira.
Authorities say at least 3,535 people have died, while 16,740 have suffered injuries. Nearly 18,000 people have lost their homes, and at least 12,800 people are staying in 80 shelters across Caracas and La Guaira.
Health officials have warned that overcrowded shelters could create new risks for survivors. Limited ventilation, unsafe water, sanitation problems, and poor waste management can increase the spread of respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin disease, wound infections, and vaccine-preventable illnesses.
The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies has also scaled up its response. The IFRC dispatched an emergency field hospital to La Guaira in partnership with the Spanish Red Cross, which also sent doctors and other health professionals.
The field hospital can provide primary health care for up to 30,000 people. It will also support maternal and infant care, vaccinations, nutritional and epidemiological monitoring, mental health services, and psychosocial support.
The IFRC said the hospital will reinforce the Venezuelan Red Cross field hospital, which has treated hundreds of trauma cases since the earthquakes. As search-and-rescue operations slow, medical teams now face growing demand for primary care, safe water, sanitation, and psychological support.
The organization has also sent 36 tons of humanitarian aid from its hubs in Panama and Argentina. The supplies include hygiene kits, cleaning kits, sleeping kits, water filters, and jerrycans for families sheltering after the disaster.
The Greek mission also drew attention during the final leg of the journey to Venezuela. On a flight from Panama, the pilot addressed passengers over the aircraft’s public announcement system and publicly thanked the Hellenic Red Cross volunteers on board.
He praised the team for traveling thousands of miles to help people in need and said they were bringing hope as they worked to save lives. Passengers responded with applause, creating an emotional moment shortly before the Greek rescuers entered the disaster zone.
The tribute offered a brief emotional pause before the Greek team entered the disaster zone. On the ground, the volunteers are now supporting a wider international response focused on rescue work, emergency medical care, shelter, and the first steps toward recovery.
