While rescue crews in Venezuela continue digging through the rubble left behind by two devastating earthquakes, a small group of Belizeans is lending more than sympathy. They are on the ground, helping survivors, recovering victims from collapsed buildings, and distributing food to thousands of people whose lives have been upended. Among the volunteers is Cayo resident Oscar Alexander Cisneros, who traveled with members of the Mennonite community from Centerville in western Belize. Today, Cisneros told us what moved them to join the relief effort and what they have witnessed in the disaster zone.
On the Phone: Oscar Cisneros, Humanitarian
“We were here like three weeks ago, and we came back here. We stayed for a week now. The first three days we were helping people or neighbors there that were trying to get out their bodies from their relatives that died in this earthquake. So we were helping them, trying to dig them out, the bodies from the construction that was crushed down and We work for three days and then after that, the next three days we were buying food for the people like rice and beans and vegetable oil and salt and noodles, things like that to give away to the people that they were asking for that. So we spoke to a couple of the people there and yeah, they were asking that. So we actually fed more or less like four thousand people. I actually work with the, with this Mennonite community over there. I’m actually their driver, and well, when this happened, they, they asked me, “Will you go with us if we go over there? Well, it will be from our own expenses to go over there.” Well, I tell them, “Well, if you decide to go, well, I will come with you guys.” So they are the ones that started with this idea that that they wanted to come and, and, and help the people.”
Britney Gordon
“And what has the reception been like from the people in Venezuela? How have they been responding to you guys?”
On the Phone: Oscar Cisneros
“Oh, well, they were very nice. They were so happy that we, we could help them, and, and they have been very nice with us here. When we left this morning, they’re asking us if we are gonna come back again for that.”
The group has also received donations from Mennonite communities in the United States and Cisnero says they are planning to make another round of donations soon.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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