Portugal has dispatched 8.7 tonnes of medicines to Venezuela on a flight that departed from Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport at 10 a.m. local time. The cargo, destined for the Venezuelan Ministry of Health, is intended to support communities affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on 24 June.
The flight marks the resumption of direct air links between Portugal and Venezuela, which had been suspended in the aftermath of the tremors. TAP Air Portugal, the national carrier, announced that for now it will operate only to Arturo Michelena Airport in Valencia, with plans to gradually restore services to other destinations, including Caracas, as the country recovers.
At the departure ceremony, Secretary of State for Health Management Francisco Pinheiro Catalão was present alongside representatives from the Ministry of Health and airport companies. The medicines were donated by pharmaceutical firms Grupo Tecnimede, BIAL, FAES Farma, Menarini, and Bluepharma, following an appeal by sector organisations. The Portuguese government, in a statement quoted by Lusa, confirmed that the supplies would be handed over to the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud.
Humanitarian Efforts Continue
This delivery follows an earlier Portuguese humanitarian mission last week, which sent hygiene items, two ambulances, and tools for clearing debris on two Air Force flights. Those flights also repatriated personnel from the Joint National Operational Force (FOCON) who had been deployed to assist in the aftermath.
The 24 June earthquakes, described as the largest seismic event in Venezuela this century, struck just seconds apart. Since then, more than 1,200 aftershocks have been recorded. The official death toll stands at 4,490, with over 300 bodies still unidentified. The government in Caracas has not provided an official figure for the number of missing people. More than 16,000 people were injured and require ongoing medical treatment.
The public health situation remains fragile. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that vaccination rates in Venezuela have been declining due to sanctions, increasing the risk of outbreaks of infections, dengue, and fevers. The earthquakes also severely damaged the healthcare infrastructure: three hospitals were closed entirely, and six others are operating only partially.
Portugal has a significant diaspora in Venezuela, and the disaster has hit the community hard. Earlier reports indicated that 96 Portuguese nationals died in the quakes, including 17 children. The resumption of air links will facilitate further humanitarian aid and family connections.
The international community has been urged to release frozen assets to support relief efforts. Venezuela’s government has called for access to these funds, as the country’s economic crisis complicates the response. The WHO has highlighted the need for sustained medical supplies and infrastructure repair.
This flight underscores the ongoing solidarity between Portugal and Venezuela, even as the latter faces a complex humanitarian emergency. The delivery of medicines is a tangible step in addressing the immediate health needs of affected populations, but long-term recovery will require continued international support.
