Andrea Valentina Overend

My name is Andrea Valentina Overend. I’m American-Venezuelan. From Caracas, El Valle. As a Venezuelan, I have deep pain in my soul after our long-lasting dictatorship and the cartel’s regime. But even though scarcity, struggle, and poverty are not new concepts in our lives, my country faces one of the worst catastrophes in its history. Two earthquakes struck with power, one right after the other, leaving a path of destruction that seems impossible to overcome thanks to the dictatorship. And the people need help, because people are helping people. In America, if there’s a catastrophe, you would likely trust the national organizations, the relief of knowing your taxpayer dollars go to repairing the damage and saving lives through humanitarian aid. You would have the needed machinery, the personnel, and the transportation. In Venezuela, not only are we lacking the state’s resources, infrastructure, and ability to provide basic services on a regular basis, but much less through something like this. And now the help is being denied entry. As a Venezuelan, I wish I could be there picking up rubble, but I cannot. They closed the airspace and are not letting people in. More than all of that, they are blocking the aid into some collapsed areas where there are people trapped. Probably still alive. Not only did they destroy whatever infrastructure we had, but now that we need them, they won’t show up, and on top of that, they are blocking international aid. I have a way to help through my friends and family, I have friends that are going to rescue people and are in need of supplies, gas money, and internet when they arrive to the most affected areas, they need waters, tools, different types of equipment that could be bought through us. My nephew is volunteering and collecting supplies that I have been getting in small increments, and my friends are doing different initiatives I such as sowing clothes, brand new for the people who lost everything.  The Red Cross was expropriated so any donations you make through those channels WILL go through the cartel. Those who are denying entry to the professional rescuers.  I have found myself sending hundreds of $$$ lately, everytime one of my people needs it. I can’t say no. I’m only doing this to ask you to help me help them.  i can’t tell you exactly what will be bought, because the centers have lists. medical supplies, clothes, pillows, but I will keep all the receipts and update you through this post.  In Venezuela, when you lose something material, it’s as much of a tragedy because it takes centuries to even imagine getting it back. So there are those who lost their lives, there are thousands still under the rubble. And then there are the ones that now have lost everything. We all want to help. I’m very committed to updating you if you decide to help my people as well. And a lot of people in need will be forever thankful. I’m sure you can imagine how dire this situation is and why I’m compelled to do everything that I can to help.