The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its follow-up on the situation of Syrian citizens residing in Venezuela following the two earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday evening, resulting in hundreds of victims and injuries.

The Ministry stressed its keenness to provide support and assistance to the Syrian community within the available capabilities.

In a statement, the ministry called on Syrians in Venezuela who need assistance or support to contact the Syrian embassy through the numbers designated for emergency cases, in order to ensure a quick response and follow up on the humanitarian situation of the affected citizens.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the designated contact numbers are (+584128348596) and (+584149086073), stressing that it will continue to follow up on developments on the ground and coordinate with the concerned authorities to check on the situation of the Syrian community.

Syria condoles Venezuela with victims of the two earthquakes

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquake that struck the country and resulted in casualties and injuries, in addition to severe damage to property and infrastructure.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that Syria extends its sincere sympathy to the Venezuelan people in this difficult humanitarian situation, expressing its full solidarity with Venezuela in the face of the repercussions of the disaster.

She added: "The Syrian Foreign Ministry wishes the speedy recovery of the injured and success for the rescue and relief teams in their efforts aimed at saving lives and mitigating the effects of the earthquake, stressing that it stands by the Venezuelan people in the face of this ordeal."

Death of 5 members of the Syrian community announced

The Syrian community in Venezuela recorded its first human loss as a result of the double earthquake that hit the country, as it was officially announced that 5 members of one Syrian family died after they were rescued from under the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital, Caracas.

There is no accurate and unified official statistic that reflects the actual number of members of the Syrian community in Venezuela, as waves of migration have been successive since the late nineteenth century and nationalities have overlapped through successive generations, making an accurate census almost impossible.

About one million Venezuelans of Syrian origin

It is estimated that between 700,000 and 1 million Venezuelans of Syrian origin, who are the children and grandchildren of immigrants who have settled in the country for more than a century, represent an influential segment in trade, industry, and public life, while the category directly related to Syrian consular care—i.e., Syrian passport holders or newly registered—is estimated at 100,000 to 200,000 people.

The community is concentrated in major cities, most notably Caracas, which includes Syrian institutions and clubs, the city of Valencia in the state of Carabobo, and Maracaibo in the state of Zulia, in addition to the island of Margarita, which is witnessing a large Syrian investment presence, and these areas are located within the scope of direct impact of the recent earthquake, which increases concern about the safety of Syrian families and their property.