Honduras’ President Rejects Aid to Venezuela After Earthquakes
Honduras’ conservative leader, Nasry Asufura, has clearly stated that his country will not offer assistance to neighboring Venezuela following the severe earthquakes that hit last week. During a press conference on Monday, he emphasized that his primary focus is to allocate government resources for the benefit of Honduras.
Asufura, who took office with the backing of former President Donald Trump, reiterated his stance on Tuesday, asking for God’s forgiveness while firmly placing Honduras first.
“God forgive me. I don’t want to come off as selfish, but my responsibility is to the people of Honduras,” he explained when questioned about the possibility of sending aid to Venezuela. “I believe that Venezuela will receive help from various countries.”
Later, he expressed frustration over the controversy his statement created, saying, “Oh my God. I’m here to prioritize Honduras, and I already mentioned that Venezuela will get a lot of aid from different nations.”
While acknowledging that Venezuela is under scrutiny to send search and rescue teams to search for potential survivors amidst the wreckage of collapsed buildings, Asufura noted the financial burden such an operation would impose on Honduras.
“People suggest, ‘Don’t send anything, just send a team.'” But, you need funds for transport, charters, and personnel. I’m sorry, but first, it’s got to be Honduras,” he stated.
The earthquakes on June 24th, which registered at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck mainly in the state of La Guaira. This area, along with Caracas, has been reported as severely affected, with entire structures collapsing and a devastated health care system further strained due to years of socialist policies. Official estimates indicate that the quakes have claimed 2,295 lives, while thousands are reported injured, and up to 50,000 individuals are still missing according to the United Nations. NASA has also estimated that around 60,000 buildings were destroyed.
Amidst these crises, there have been reports of Venezuelan authorities engaging in unlawful activities, such as looting and obstructing rescue operations. A notable incident involved Diosdado Cabello, a prominent socialist leader, who was seen preventing American rescue teams from accessing areas with potential survivors.
The U.S. State Department has quickly mobilized to provide assistance, allocating over $300 million in aid and deploying responders via dedicated military aircraft. According to reports, 27 countries have offered support, sending rescue workers and setting up makeshift hospitals to aid in the recovery efforts.
While Asufura did express solidarity with the affected Venezuelan communities, he did not commit to any relief initiatives. “The people and government of Honduras send their strength to the families impacted and offer their prayers for comfort and a speedy recovery,” he communicated through social media.
At the same time, Honduras is grappling with its own crisis, as a landslide occurred in the Peripheral Ring area of Tegucigalpa. Local emergency teams were dispatched to assist those trapped beneath the debris.
A video purportedly showing Honduran workers aiding in rescue efforts began circulating, but it was later clarified that it had been misidentified and actually depicted the landslide in Tegucigalpa.
Local authorities in Honduras are also facing a serious public health crisis, with over 4,800 cases of dengue fever reported this season, in addition to 268 instances of New World screwworm infestations. This tropical country often experiences outbreaks of such diseases during the summer months, particularly dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Although the New World screwworm was declared eradicated in Honduras in 1996, infections among livestock have resurged.
