The president Javier Milei and the chancellor Pablo Quirno announced a humanitarian response towards Venezuela following the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that shook the Caribbean country on June 24.
The official toll, reported by the acting president Delcy Rodríguez, amounts to 164 dead and 971 injured, in addition to severe infrastructure damage.
The initiative involved not only immediate assistance but also the resumption of direct political contact between the foreign ministries, which had been interrupted for years due to ideological differences between the two governments.
Argentina’s Solidarity Gesture
From the President’s Office, a statement was issued in which Milei extended “his hand in solidarity to the Venezuelan people in the face of a natural disaster that demands a reaction from the entire international community.”
The text acknowledged the political differences but subordinated them to the emergency: Argentina expressed its willingness to collaborate with humanitarian assistance in coordination with international organizations.
Quirno, from New York during activities at the UN, confirmed that the instruction came directly from the president:
“The president instructed me to evaluate and make ourselves available to the Venezuelan people to see where we can help.”
The chancellor also emphasized the political dimension of the gesture: “We put everything aside and are speaking directly with the Foreign Ministry, something that politically was not happening as frequently as it should.”
Consular Channels Enabled
The Argentine Foreign Ministry, without diplomatic representation in Caracas since 2024, enabled direct contact channels for affected Argentine citizens:
- Email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].
- Phone lines: +5491150615903 (WhatsApp) and +5491150407243 (voice message).
These mechanisms aim to compensate for the absence of an embassy, after Brazil abandoned the temporary representation in January 2026 and Italy has yet to receive formal approval to assume that role.
Critical Situation in Venezuela
Rodríguez declared the state of emergency and described La Guaira as a “disaster zone.” The Maiquetía International Airport remained closed, forcing the cancellation of international flights such as the Madrid-Caracas flight by Iberia.
The Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) reported at least ten aftershocks during the early hours of Thursday, with intensities ranging from 2.4 to 4.5.
Argentines Affected by the Earthquakes in Venezuela
Among the victims is the footballer Lucas Trejo, defender of Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira. His family remains missing after the collapse of the building in Playa Grande where they lived. The player issued a call for help on social media asking for information about his wife and children.
The tragedy in Venezuela not only mobilized Argentine solidarity but also opened an unexpected political channel between ideologically opposed governments.
The humanitarian gesture by Milei and Quirno sets a precedent in regional diplomacy: when an emergency strikes, political differences take a back seat to the need to save lives and assist affected communities.
