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Relief supplies sent to flood impacted communities in Venezuela
Following torrential rain and flooding in Venezuela, Peace Boat has delivered relief supplies to impacted communities. On September 8, 2021, on the occasion of the Venezuelan delegation of athletes and officials to Japan for the 2020 Paralympic Games, 170 boxes of relief supplies collected from throughout Japan were delivered to Narita Airport, and transported on the athletes' chartered return flight. The loading was witnessed by the Venezuelan Ambassador to Japan, H.E. Mr. Seiko Ishikawa, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Melvin Maldonado.
On August 25, shortly after the opening of the Paralympic Games, the state of Mérida in the Venezuelan Andes Mountains and other areas of the country were severely flooded, leading to 20 dead, 17 missing and more than 54,500 people affected (as at August 29, 2021). In response to information provided about local needs, Peace Boat's United People's Alliance (UPA) and Disaster Relief Centre (PBV) collected and delivered hygiene products, masks, disinfectant gel, solar lights, clothes, stationery and sports equipment.
We would like to thank all those who kindly provided these supplies, and hope that they will contribute to the recovery of the affected areas and communities.
Since 1995, Peace Boat has delivered relief supplies to Venezuela on more than ten occasions, focusing on sports equipment, musical instruments, stationery and other items, based on local needs at the time. On previous visits to Venezuela during our global voyages, we have continued to conduct dialogue and people-to-people exchange, including through sports, music and disaster risk reduction education. While the COVID-19 situation makes it not possible to visit or interact directly, Peace Boat is grateful for the opportunity provided on this occasion to continue to provide assistance in this time of need.
Peace Boat's UPA International Cooperation Project was launched in 1984, with the aim of building people-to-people links that are not influenced by the interests of one country over another. To date, UPA has delivered relief supplies ranging from everyday items such as pencils, football balls and sewing machines to large items such as wheelchairs, curved mirrors and ambulances to more than 420 facilities in 56 countries and regions around the world.
