Israeli aid groups begin operations in Venezuela, with more teams en route

Amid an international response to the devastating double earthquake in Venezuela, SmartAID, an Israeli organization that specializes in integrating technology into humanitarian aid, says it already has volunteers with American, Venezuelan, and dual Israeli-Venezuelan citizenship on the ground.

The volunteers are distributing basic hygiene and other supplies to families who have lost their homes.

“Our main mandate is to help as human beings,” says Shachar Zahavi, SmartAID’s Founder and CEO.

In the coming hours, the SmartAID-Magen 17 volunteer search and rescue team, currently in Panama, will enter Venezuela with Venezuelan government permission, and help local teams searching for remaining survivors under the rubble.

During the coming days, the charity additionally plans to fly off-grid clean energy and water equipment in from the US, along with Starlink internet services.

The equipment has been donated by US companies with which SmartAID USA has had partnerships for years, and is currently being packed for transport by volunteers in the organization’s warehouse.

“The real crisis is that there’s no electricity, internet or clean water,” Zahavi says. “Our team will fly into Venezuela with the equipment and install it in hospitals, clinics, and various first responder sites, in coordination with local government and local grassroots charities.”

Among other Israeli organizations, IsraAid has a team in the air and expecting to land in Venezuela, while its Columbian-based team is already in the disaster zone.

Natan’s medical team is leaving for Panama this evening, and has not yet received permission to enter Venezuela, while the Joint Distribution Committee’s team is still in Israel, working remotely through local partners.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it was making “immediate preparations” for the possible deployment of an aid delegation to Venezuela. However, there was no sign of an official delegation being sent — Venezuela broke diplomatic ties with Israel over Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008-2009.

The official death toll in Venezuela has reached 1,430, with families reporting at least 68,900 people missing.