South Florida’s aviation community is stepping up to help Venezuela after devastating earthquakes. The death toll has risen to 1,430, according to Venezuelan officials.

Volunteers have been working around the clock to organize boxes of donated supplies, including food, water, baby essentials, and pet food. However, organizers said that getting these flights into the country has become a challenge, with additional flights on hold while they wait for authorization from the Venezuelan government.

Humanitarian Efforts

A private humanitarian flight to Venezuela is ready for takeoff, carrying donations such as first aid and rescue equipment, which are among the most urgently needed items. “Especially medicines is what we feel that is most needed,” said Ignacio Martinez, director of W Aviation.

The community responded quickly, with organizers receiving packages and donations almost immediately. “We started receiving packages and donations yesterday at 8 o’clock in the morning,” said Hugo Cortes, General Manager of W Aviation. “We worked very heavy until 1 o’clock in the morning to get it ready.”

Members of South Florida’s Venezuelan community are showing up with whatever they can to help. “We are Venezuelans,” Rodrigo Escobar said. “We are very united. That’s what we are as a people. And like I said, this is the thing that we can do. And it’s devastating. It’s really devastating.”

Organizers hope to continue these humanitarian flights for the next month or so, but said additional departures now depend on receiving authorization from the Venezuelan government.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.