Last June 24, Venezuela was hit by devastating earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 7.2 to 7.5, occurring less than a minute apart. More than 600 aftershocks followed. Buildings collapsed and roads were severely damaged, and as of now, nearly 3,000 deaths have been confirmed, with people still missing. Search and rescue operations are receiving international assistance, especially from neighboring countries.
As a form of support for the homeless and families who lost loved ones, Metallica, through its foundation All Within My Hands, which carries out social work in support of important causes and in response to natural disasters, donated 100,000 dollars.
Read the whole Metallica statement about the donation
“All Within My Hands is granting $100,000 to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela through longtime partner Direct Relief. On June 24, Venezuela was hit by back-to-back, devastating earthquakes, registering at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, less than a minute apart. More than 600 aftershocks have continued to strike, hindering already dire rescue operations and increasing fear within the displaced community.
The full scale of the damage is yet to be determined. More than 68,000 people were reported missing within three days of the disaster, and the official death toll is now over 2,000. Reports from the United Nations indicate that up to 6.8 million Venezuelans may be affected, which includes being displaced or losing access to electricity and water. Early satellite analysis by NASA suggests nearly 60,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed. The Venezuelan Red Cross said it expected to address the needs of at least 300,000 people for the next two years.
They continued:
Coordinating with agencies at the regional and local levels, Direct Relief is mobilizing emergency medical aid and supporting search-and-rescue operations. The organization is providing emergency funding to support the deployment of Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (BUSF), a Spain-based search-and-rescue organization, to assist with on-the-ground operations. At the same time, Direct Relief is preparing medical aid commonly needed after earthquakes, including first-aid supplies, hygiene items for displaced families, medicines used to treat acute injuries, and chronic disease medications for people whose access to routine care may be interrupted.
AWMH’s $100,000 grant will support Direct Relief as the organization continues to respond to requests in the region as they become known,” All Within My Hands press release said.