The United Nations says it is procuring 10,000 body bags for Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck last week, warning that the death toll may rise. The back-to-back quakes flattened neighborhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving tens of thousands of people missing. UN coordinator Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro says the figure is a planning “proxy” that reflects expectations that the official count could increase beyond what has already been reported. He says the UN and Venezuelan authorities have agreed to the procurement, while expressing hope that the eventual number of deaths will be lower than the assumption. In remarks delivered during a virtual news conference, Rampolla del Tindaro also points to international assistance already mobilised. He says 27 countries have deployed more than 2,000 rescuers and personnel, including over 160 search dogs, and that rescue teams recovered seven people alive from rubble on Sunday, four days after the earthquakes. The UN’s statement is aimed at disaster response readiness as search and recovery continue.
UN to procure 10,000 body bags for quake-hit Venezuela
The United Nations says it is procuring 10,000 body bags for Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck last week, warning that the death toll may rise. The back-to-back quakes flattened neighborhoods in...
- The UN is procuring 10,000 body bags for quake-affected Venezuela.
- The earthquakes occurred in Venezuela’s coastal state of La Guaira and caused widespread destruction.
- More than 1,700 people are reported dead, and tens of thousands are missing.
- The UN says the death toll could be higher than currently reported, and the body-bag number is a planning estimate.
- International response includes 27 countries deploying more than 2,000 rescuers and personnel, with over 160 search dogs.
The UN says it is procuring 10,000 body bags for Venezuela, warning the death toll will rise.
1 month agoBack-to-back earthquakes last week flattened entire neighborhoods, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving tens of thousands missing.
1 month agoUNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP)—The United Nations, fearing more deaths from twin earthquakes in Venezuela, said Monday it will provide 10,000 body bags to the country -- though it hopes the eventual toll will not be that high. Back-to-back quakes last week flattened entire neighborhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving tens of thousands missing. Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, UN coordinator for Venezuela, declined to speculate beyond official figures, but said "we are definitely looking at a number that is higher than the one already reported." "I can give you a proxy indicator. We are procuring, and this is something that has been agreed with the authorities here, 10,000 body bags," Rampolla del Tindaro told a virtual news conference. "That is somehow applying assumption, and it's very sad, and we truly hope that actually the number is going to be smaller than that," he said. Rampolla del Tindaro also praised the international response, saying 27 countries have deployed more than 2,000 rescuers and personnel, with over 160 search dogs. He said these teams managed to rescue seven people from the rubble on Sunday, the fourth day after the disaster struck Venezuela.
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