Over 50 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Sent from Miami to Venezuela

A LATAM Airlines plane departed from Miami International Airport on Monday, loaded with over 50 tons of essential supplies and food items bound for those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24. This initiative was orchestrated by the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in collaboration with Miami-Dade County.

Among those present at the loading of the aircraft was Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who characterized the shipment as one of the inaugural major humanitarian efforts directed towards Venezuela.

"We are here with LATAM, donating this flight with 50 tons of necessary supplies for those suffering in Venezuela," stated the mayor, adding that GEM will be responsible for distributing the aid on the ground.

Dariel Fernández, a Cuban-American and Miami-Dade Tax Collector, also attended the event, publicly thanking the collective effort that made this mission possible.

"Fifty tons of humanitarian aid for the people of Venezuela. I want to thank all of you who made this possible. It’s you, the volunteers, who have gradually contributed your donations in Doral," Fernández said in a video shared on his Facebook page.

"Venezuelans, we stand with you. Today more than ever, the people of Miami and the world are with you. We will continue to send aid to rebuild Venezuela, following 27 years of that deadly socialist-communism and now this earthquake. But Venezuelans are resilient and will rise again," Fernández declared. "Today, we are all Venezuela."

He noted that the Tax Collector's Office maintains 11 donation points open from Monday to Saturday, where individuals can drop off contributions for the Venezuelan people. The main collection center has been the GEM headquarters in Doral, where lines of vehicles with donations exceeded an hour's wait on June 26.

The response from the South Florida community has been described as extraordinary. Families, businesses, religious organizations, and community groups of various nationalities—including Venezuelans, Cubans, Colombians, Puerto Ricans, and Uruguayans—joined in collecting donations at designated points throughout Miami-Dade County.

The Cuban community's participation was particularly significant. A volunteer named Xiomara Ruiz encapsulated the sentiment of many: "We are Cubans, but we feel it the same." The Cuban community in Miami has a personal connection to the tragedy, as at least 32 Cuban nationals were reported missing, primarily in the state of La Guaira, with confirmed deaths including a 15-year-old girl, an adult man, and a family of six members.

The June 24 earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, the strongest recorded in Venezuela since 1900 according to the U.S. Geological Survey—have resulted in 1,943 confirmed fatalities and 10,571 injuries, as reported by Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on Tuesday. The United Nations estimates up to 50,000 missing and 6.76 million affected.

International aid includes 25 rescue teams from 17 countries and over 1,600 rescuers deployed. The United States Southern Command is supporting operations with C-17 and C-130 aircraft, while former President Donald Trump authorized $150 million in humanitarian assistance. GEM continues to receive cash donations to procure supplies directly in Venezuela.