Uruguay sends second humanitarian flight to Venezuela with 15 tons of aid

The Uruguayan government dispatched a second humanitarian flight to Venezuela this Saturday, carrying 15 tons of medical supplies, drugs, and hygiene kits for populations affected by recent earthquakes. The Hercules C-130 aircraft of the Uruguayan Air Force departed for Caracas as part of a coordinated inter-institutional effort.

Leandro Palomeque, director of the National Emergency System (Sinae), confirmed that the cargo was selected based on requests from Venezuelan authorities, ensuring the aid matches actual needs rather than being a unilateral offer. ‘In humanitarian assistance, we aim to adjust aid to demand, not supply,’ Palomeque said.

The flight had to be rescheduled due to a temporary suspension of incoming aid by Venezuelan authorities while they reorganized logistics. Once the cargo was approved, a new date was set. Such adjustments are common in large-scale operations to avoid bottlenecks at entry points.

Contributions came from the Ministry of Public Health, the University of the Republic, laboratories, and civil society organizations. The University’s technical teams verified storage conditions and expiration dates of donated medications. The Uruguayan state covered all air transport costs, reflecting its commitment to regional cooperation.

Upon arrival in Caracas, the cargo was handed over to Venezuelan authorities for distribution. The aircraft returned immediately with a technical stop in Manaus, Brazil. This mission followed an earlier flight that helped refine protocols for efficient response.

Article source: lr21.com.uy | Image credit: teleSUR English