From WEEKLY NEWS 11/00
"Venezuela and Kuwait are geographically
distant countries, but close through friendship" said the Kuwaiti
Ambassador in Caracas as he attended food distributions to 452 families
in the town of Caraballeda, in the state of Vargas. The one-million
US dollar contribution by Kuwait has allowed the purchase of 25,000 food
parcels and 2,500 kitchen sets. It has also funded transport, indispensable
for providing assistance in the affected areas, and covered some operational
costs. Kuwait is the largest single donor for the Venezuela Red Cross relief
operation for flood victims. The food distribution attended by the Kuwaiti
Ambassador was organised by the Venezuelan Red Cross (VRC) and the International
Federation delegation. Although the situation for many families is improving,
living conditions in many areas are still precarious. The visit of Ambassador
Ali Khaled Al-Sabah to the distribution site was arranged for enable him
to see fist hand how his country's - and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society's
donation is making a difference. So far the Federation has distributed
food parcels, blankets, sheets, drinking water and chlorine tablets and
kitchen sets for 10,000 families. Apart from relief distributions, long
term health and water and sanitation programmes have been set up by the
Venezuelan Red Cross with support from various donor National Societies
and the Federation.
WEEKLY NEWS IS PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES
17 Chemin des Crêts, Geneva
Tel: (41 22) 730 4222
Fax: (41 22) 733 0395
E-mail: weeklynews@ifrc.org