The news from Caracas is grim. A second earthquake has struck the Venezuelan capital. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Prayers are being said for those still trapped. The situation is developing rapidly.
Downing Street sources confirm UK-based aid charities are already launching emergency appeals. The Disasters Emergency Committee is coordinating. They are experienced in this. They know the drill.
The first quake hit early this morning. It was bad enough. Now this second tremor. It feels like a kick when you are already down. The death toll is expected to rise. That is the grim reality.
Westminster is watching closely. The Foreign Office is in touch with international partners. There is talk of a coordinated relief effort. But these things take time. Time the people of Caracas do not have.
I have spoken to a contact in the aid sector. They say the immediate need is for search and rescue equipment. Medical supplies are also critical. And clean water. The basics. The things we take for granted.
The political angle is delicate. The Maduro regime is not popular here. But this is a humanitarian crisis. Party lines are being set aside. For now. Expect cross-party support for the aid effort.
There are already calls for the government to match public donations. The Treasury is considering it. I would not be surprised if a pledge is made by the end of the day. Good optics. Simple politics.
But the real story is on the ground. The human cost. The families digging through rubble with their bare hands. The children in hospital wards. The elderly trapped in collapsed buildings. Our aid money can help. It must.
I will be watching the FCO briefings closely. And the DEC appeal totals. That is the real test of public sentiment. How much we care. How much we give.
For now, the focus is on rescue. The prayers are for those still alive. The politics can wait.
