Ndị nhazi si Venezuela nọ n'ọdụ ụgbọelu mba ụwa Benito Juárez, ha na ndị otu Topos Azteca na-ahụ maka nnapụta, ndị a ma ama maka nka ha n’ịzaghachi ọdachi ala ọma jijiji na nnapụta ndị mmadụ n’ụlọ ndị dara ada, ebe ha bu igbe na akpa juputara n’ihe enyemaka ahụike, ihe ndị dị mkpa na akụrụngwa nnapụta. Foto a bụ nke ndị nhazi nyere. E ji ya mee ihe site na ikike ha nyere.

Edemede a so na ngalaba pụrụ iche a kpọrọ “N’ime Ọdachi Ala Ọma Jijiji nke Venezuela,” ebe anyị na-enyocha ihe ndị mere mgbe ala ọma jijiji ndị ahụ gasịrị, na-akọrịta akụkọ sitere n’ebe ihe ahụ mere, ma na-eleba anya n’otu ọdachi ahụ si metụta ndị mmadụ, mbọ a na-agba iji weghachite ọnọdụ ka ọ dịbu, na nsogbu ndị obodo ihe ahụ metụtara na-eche ihu.

Mgbe ala ọma jijiji ndị dị egwu dakwasịrị Venezuela, mbọ e mere iji nyere ndị ihe ahụ metụtara aka gafere oke ala obodo ahụ. N’ime awa ole na ole, ndị Venezuela bi na Latin America na n’akụkụ ụwa ndị ọzọ haziri onwe ha, malite ịnakọta ego, ịhazi ndị na-enyere mmadụ aka n’achọghị ụgwọ, na iwulite mmekọrịta ndị a pụrụ ịtụkwasị obi iji wetara ndị lanarịrị ọdachi ahụ enyemaka ozugbo.

Na Mexico, ebe ọtụtụ iri afọ nke nkwadebe maka ala ọma jijiji wulitere omenaala siri ike nke ịdị n’otu n’etiti ụmụ amaala, onye Venezuela kwagara mba ọzọ, onye na-emepụta ihe na onye nchọpụta na-alụ ọgụ megide ịkpa oke agbụrụ, Mariana Álvarez Castillo nyere aka iduzi mbọ enyemaka sitere n’etiti ndị obodo, ya na obodo La Pitahaya Vegana, Masala CCS na Levantemos la Casa. Site na njikọ aka ndị bịara inyere aka n’achọghị ụgwọ, ndị nyere onyinye, na ndị mmekọ obodo a tụkwasịrị obi, nke a chịkọtara ngwa ngwa, ha nyefere ndị ihe ahụ metụtara enyemaka ndị ha chọrọ ozugbo.

N’ajụjụ ọnụ a, Álvarez na-atụgharị uche n’oke mbọ ndị otu ahụ gbara, otu ndị Venezuela bi na mba ọzọ si gbanwee iru uju ha ka ọ bụrụ imekọ ihe ọnụ, ihe ịma aka dị n’ịhazi enyemaka mmadụ n’ofe okeala mba dị iche iche, na ihe nchịkọta ike a dị ịrịba ama na-egosi banyere ikike ndị Venezuela nọ n’ụwa niile nwere ịnagide ihe isi ike, ịdị n’otu, na njirimara ha na-agbanwe agbanwe.

Gabriela Mesones Rojo (GMR): Gịnị kpaliri gị ime nhazi ozugbo mgbe ala ọma jijiji ahụ gasịrị?

Mariana Álvarez Castillo (MÁC): Beyond the obvious shock and grief of knowing that so much irreversible damage had occurred in a matter of seconds, I think living in a seismic country like Mexico has taught us how critical the first hours after a disaster like this are. In the face of an event of this magnitude, the response has to be immediate.

Here, the collective memory of the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes is still very much alive. These events are part of Mexico’s recent history, and they led to the development of protocols, early warning systems, drills, and emergency guidelines. Because of that, we quickly understood that the scale of the catastrophe in Venezuela would be devastating.

We also know that our country, Venezuela, is not prepared to cope with earthquakes like these.

Just a couple of hours after the quake, reports from La Guaira began to emerge, and by the following morning we were already making decisions about how to organize. That same day, we launched our initiative, and within seven hours we had delivered supplies, meals, and clean drinking water to four public hospitals thanks to the overwhelming response from donors. During that same week, we also established a collection center at La Pitahaya Vegana, made possible by an incredible network of volunteers.

Mariana Álvarez Castillo (MÁC): E wezuga oke ụjọ na iru uju doro anya nke imata na n’ime sekọnd olenaole na e mebiela ọtụtụ ihe n’ụzọ a na-apụghị ịrụzigharị, echere m na ibi na mba dị ka Mexico, bụ ebe ala ọma jijiji na-eme, akụzierela anyị otu awa mbụ ndị na-esote ọdachi dị otu a si adị. Mgbe ọdachi ruru ụdị ogo a, ọ dị mkpa ka e mee ihe ozugbo.

N’ebe a, ncheta nke ọha mmadụ banyere ala ọma jijiji ndị mere n’afọ 1985 na 2017 ka dị ndụ nke ukwuu. Ihe ndị a so n'akụkọ ihe mere eme n'oge na-adịbeghi anya nke Mexico, ha mere ka e guzobe usoro na ụkpụrụ a ga-agbaso, usoro ịdọ aka na ntị tupu ọdachi eruo, ọzụzụ, na ntụziaka maka oge mberede. N’ihi nke a, anyị ghọtara ozugbo na oke ọdachi ahụ mere na Venezuela ga-adị oke egwu.

Anyị makwaara na obodo anyị, Venezuela, akwadobeghị nke ọma ịnagide ala ọma jijiji ndị dị otu a.

Naanị awa olenaole ka ala ọma jijiji ahụ mechara, akụkọ sitere na La Guaira malitere ịpụta, n’ụtụtụ ụbọchị na-esote, anyị malitere ime mkpebi banyere otu anyị ga-esi hazie ihe. N’otu ụbọchị ahụ, anyị malitere atụmatụ anyị, n’ime awa asaa, anyị ebutela ihe enyemaka, nri, na mmiri ọṅụṅụ dị ọcha n’ụlọ ọgwụ ọha mmadụ anọ, nke kwere omume n’ihi nzaghachi dị ukwuu sitere n’aka ndị nyere onyinye. N’otu izu ahụ, anyị guzobekwara ebe a na-anakọta ihe na La Pitahaya Vegana, nke njikọka aka dị ịtụnanya nke ndị bịara inyere aka n’anaghị ụgwọ mere ka o kwe omume.

GMR: Gịnị ka nnukwu nchịkọta a na-egosi banyere Venezuela nke dị n’ofe okeala ya?

MÁC: Venezuelan migrants are learning how to build community outside our country. Unlike countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, or China, whose migration histories span generations and have produced well-established communities abroad—like Mexicans in Chicago or California, or Puerto Ricans in New York—we don’t have a long-standing migrant tradition to draw upon. We’re creating that collective memory now.

Migration on this scale is a recent phenomenon in Venezuela’s history, so it isn’t always easy to organize or know how best to respond. But in this case, different small groups quickly reached the same conclusion: we had to send money for whatever was most urgently needed — water, tools, medical supplies, medicines, and more recently, orthopedic fixation materials for survivors with severe injuries caused by collapsed buildings.

There is also a deep sense of guilt that comes with being far away, and even with being safe. When you can’t be there to support your loved ones during such a horrific moment, the best response is action: finding a way to solve something, however small; contributing something, however insignificant it may seem.

MÁC: Ndị Venezuela kwagara mba ọzọ na-amụta otu e si ewulite mmekọrịta na ịdị n’otu n’etiti onwe ha n’ezi mba anyị. Ọ dịghị ka mba ndị dị ka Mexico, Puerto Rico, ma ọ bụ China, bụ ndị akụkọ banyere njem ha na mba ọzọ malitere kemgbe ọtụtụ ọgbọ ma mee ka ha nwee otu ndị guzoberela nke ọma n’ofe mba ọzọ—dị ka ndị Mexico bi na Chicago ma ọ bụ California, ma ọ bụ ndị Puerto Rico bi na New York—anyị enweghị omenaala dịrịla ogologo oge nke ịkwaga mba ọzọ anyị ga-esi na ya mụta. Ugbu a, ọ bụ anyị onwe anyị na-emepụta ụdị ihe mmụta a dịrị anyị dịka otu.

Ịkwaga mba ọzọ n’ogo dị otu a bụ ihe ọhụrụ n’akụkọ ihe mere eme nke Venezuela, ya mere ọ naghị adịcha mfe ịhazi ihe ma ọ bụ ịma ụzọ kacha mma e kwesịrị isi meghachi omume. Ma n’ọnọdụ a, obere otu dị iche iche kwekọrịtara n’otu echiche ngwa ngwa: anyị zigara ego iji zụta ihe ọ bụla kacha dị mkpa ozugbo—mmiri, ngwa ọrụ, ihe enyemaka ahụike, ọgwụ, na n’oge na-adịghị anya, ihe ndị e ji edozi ọkpụkpụ maka ndị lanarịrị nwere mmerụ ahụ buru ibu nke ụlọ ndị dara kpatara.

E nwekwara mmetụta miri emi nke ikpe ọmụma na-abịa site n’ịnọ n’ebe dị anya, nakwa site n’ịnọ n’ebe dị nchekwa. Mgbe ị na-enweghị ike ịnọ ebe ahụ ịkwado ndị ị hụrụ n’anya n’oge dị egwu dị otu a, ihe kacha mma bụ ime ihe: ịchọta ụzọ isi dozie otu nsogbu, n’agbanyeghị na ọ dị obere; inye aka n’ihe ụfọdụ, n’agbanyeghị na o nwere ike iyi ihe na-enweghị nnukwu uru.

N’aka ekpe: Ebe nnakọta ihe na La Pitahaya Vegana, bụ ebe a na-anata, hazie ma kewaa ihe enyemaka ndị mmadụ nyere. N'aka nri: Ndị bịara inyere aka na-ahazi ma na-edekọ ọnụọgụgụ ihe ndị dị mkpa tupu eziga ha na Venezuela site n’aka ndị otu nnapụta Topos Azteca. Foto sitere n’aka ndị nhazi. Ejiri ya site n’ikike ha nyere.

GMR: Kedu ihe bụ nnukwu ihe ịma aka kacha dịrị unu n’ịhazi enyemaka sitere na Mexico—ịchịkọta ego, ịhazi njem na mbufe ihe, ka ọ bụ iwulite ntụkwasị obi?

MÁC: It’s important to say that experiencing the solidarity of the Mexican people has been deeply moving. They have supported us by donating, bringing supplies to collection centers, volunteering at fundraising events, helping facilitate the travel of the Topos rescue brigades, and offering words of encouragement and heartfelt embraces.

We know that Venezuelan migrants in other countries haven’t always experienced the same level of empathy, and feeling alone and foreign during a tragedy like this can be heartbreaking.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for us as migrants in Mexico is exactly what many people who lived through the earthquakes would have preferred: not being there. Walking through streets far from home, going to places where life appears to go on as usual. Going to work and functioning as though everything is normal. Finding the strength to focus on the present. Trying to pay attention to anything other than the relentless flow of news about the earthquakes. Essentially, pretending we’re okay.

MÁC: Ọ dị mkpa ikwu na inweta ịdị n’otu na nkwado sitere n’aka ndị Mexico emetụla anyị n’obi nke ukwuu. Ha akwadoola anyị site n’inye onyinye, iweta ihe enyemaka n’ebe a na-anakọta ha, isonye n’ihe omume ịchịkọta ego, inyere aka ime ka njem ndị otu nnapụta Topos dị mfe, na ịgwa anyị okwu ndị na-agba anyị ume nakwa ibi anyị ọma ịhụnanya.

Anyị maara na ndị Venezuela kwagara mba ọzọ anaghị enweta ọmịiko n’ogo ha kwesịrị inweta mgbe niile, nakwa na ịnọ naanị gị ma bụrụ onye ọbịa n’oge ọdachi dị otu a nwere ike ime ka obi gbawaa mmadụ.

Ikekwe, nnukwu ihe ịma aka kacha dịrị anyị dịka ndị kwagara mba ọzọ na Mexico bụ ihe ọtụtụ n’ime ndị lanarịrị ala ọma jijiji ndị ahụ gaara achọ: ịghara ịnọ ebe ahụ. Ịga n’okporo ụzọ ndị dị anya n’ebe ụlọ dị, ịga ebe ndụ yiri ka ọ na-aga n’ihu dịka ọ na-adị. Ịga ọrụ ma na-eme ihe niile dị ka a ga-asị na ihe niile dị mma. Ịchọta ike ị ga-eji lekwasị anya n’ihe na-eme ugbu a. Ịgbalị itinye uche n’ihe ọ bụla ọzọ kama ịgbaso ozi na-adịghị akwụsị akwụsị banyere ala ọma jijiji ndị ahụ. N’ikpeazụ, ime ka a ga-asị na anyị dị mma.

GMR: Venezuela nwere ogologo akụkọ ihe mere eme nke enweghị ntụkwasị obi n’ihe gbasara enyemaka mmadụ. Kedu ka unu si agba mbọ ịhụ na ihe niile doro anya?

MÁC: The three of us are friends who work on academic and culinary projects. Throughout this process we’ve stood behind the initiative with our personal identities and social media accounts, but also through Antroposabores, Conuco, and La Pitahaya Vegana — trusted community-based projects that have spent years building strong, deeply committed networks.

From the beginning, we also partnered with the Caracas restaurant Masala CCS, which was preparing to open its doors to the public when the earthquakes struck. Instead, they chose to donate their facilities, staff, and kitchen to prepare meals for doctors, rescue workers, and survivors.

Through their volunteers, we’ve built a network in Caracas that allows resources to reach civilians directly, without intermediaries or bureaucracy. Donations go straight to a trusted member of our network in Caracas, who purchases whatever is needed and delivers it directly to the places where it’s required, avoiding customs procedures or checkpoints that could delay or divert aid.

We also follow a strict accountability policy: every donation is recorded, every purchase receipt is kept, and photos, videos, and testimonials are shared on our social media. This allows every donor to see exactly how their contribution was used and the direct impact it has had.

More recently, we launched ‘Levantemos la Casa’ (‘Let's Rebuild the Home’), a series of events organized by the Venezuelan community in Mexico City, where artists, poets, producers, designers, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs donate their work to raise funds. Every dollar goes directly toward supporting those affected by the earthquakes through cultural gatherings that strengthen community while providing relief.

MÁC: Anyị atọ bụ enyi na-arụ ọrụ metụtara agụmakwụkwọ na nri. N’oge usoro a niile, anyị ejirila aha anyị na akaụntụ anyị n'ọwa mgbasa ozi mmekọrịta kwado atụmatụ a, ma sitekwa na Antroposabores, Conuco, na La Pitahaya Vegana—ọrụ ndị obodo tụkwasịrị obi, bụ́ ndị jiri ọtụtụ afọ wulite otu njịko siri ike nke ndị raara onwe ha nye n’ịkwado ha.

Site na mbido, anyị sokwa ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ Masala CCS dị na Caracas rụkọọ ọrụ, bụ ndị na-akwado imeghe ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ ahụ nye ọha mgbe ala ọma jijiji ndị ahụ mere. Kama nke ahụ, ha kpebiri inye ebe ha, ndị ọrụ ha, na usoekwu ha maka iji kwadebe nri maka ndị dọkịta, ndị ọrụ nnapụta, na ndị lanarịrị.

Site n’aka ndị bịara inyere aka, anyị wulitere otu njikọ na Caracas nke na-eme ka ihe enyemaka ruo ndị nkịtị ozugbo, na-enweghị ndị ọ ga-agafe n'aka ha ma ọ bụ usoro ọchịchị na-adịghị mkpa. Onyinye na-aga ozugbo n’aka otu onye a tụkwasịrị obi nọ na netwọkụ anyị na Caracas, onye na-azụta ihe ọ bụla dị mkpa ma nyefee ya ozugbo n’ebe a chọrọ ya, na-ezere usoro ndị ọrụ nyocha ma ọ bụ ebe a na-enyocha ndị mmadụ na ngwongwo nke nwere ike igbu oge ma ọ bụ mee ka e bufee enyemaka ahụ n’ebe ọzọ.

Anyị na-agbasokwa usoro siri ike nke ịhụ na ihe niile doro anya: a na-edekọ onyinye ọ bụla, a na-echekwa akwụkwọ nnata ịzụrụ ihe ọ bụla, a na-ekesakwa foto, vidio, na akaebe ndị mmadụ n’aka anyị n’ọwa ozi ikuku anyị. Nke a na-eme ka onye ọ bụla nyere onyinye nwee ike ịhụ kpọmkwem otú e si jiri onyinye ya mee ihe na mmetụta o nwere.

N’oge na-adịbeghị anya, anyị malitere “Levantemos la Casa” (“Ka anyị wughachi ụlọ”), usoro mmemme ndị obodo Venezuela nọ n'ebe mepere emepe na Mexico haziri, ebe ndị na-ese ihe, ndị na-ede abụ, ndị na-arụpụta ihe, ndị na-emepụta atụmatụ, ndị na-eme ihe nkiri, na ndị ọchụnta ego na-enye ọrụ ha iji chịkọta ego. Ego dollar ọ bụla na-aga ozugbo n’inyere ndị ala ọma jijiji metụtara aka site na mmemme ọdịbendị ndị na-eme ka mmekọrịta obodo dịgide ma na-enyekwa enyemaka.

Ndị na-agụ egwu Augusto Bracho na Laura Itandehui na-eme ngosipụta n’emume mbụ nke “Levantemos la Casa,” bụ mmemme ọdịbendị e ji achịkọta ego iji kwadoo obodo ndị ala ọma jijiji metụtara na Venezuela. E mere mmemme ahụ na Librería Utópicas dị na Coyoacán, mpaghara mepere emepe nke Mexico. Foto sitere n’aka ndị nhazi. Ejiri ya site n’ikike ha nyere.

GMR: E nwere ihe ọ bụla gbasara otu ụmụ amaala Mexico si ahazi onwe ha nke ị ga-achọ ka e tinye n’ọrụ na Venezuela?

MÁC: I’m not an expert on the subject, but I would say that Mexico’s earthquake early warning system is something worth replicating. Depending on the earthquake’s epicenter, the alarm can sound up to a minute before the shaking begins, giving people precious seconds to activate emergency protocols that are taught in schools and reinforced through nationwide drills held at least once a year. Those few seconds can make an enormous difference and save lives.

I would also highlight Mexico’s emphasis on prevention and structural safety. Building this culture hasn’t been easy; Mexico’s seismic history is marked by tremendous pain. But those experiences have led both society and specialists to implement stricter building regulations, reinforcement measures, and regular structural evaluations.

We’ve seen how the lack of preventive policies and resilient infrastructure has left Venezuela especially vulnerable. At this point, it often feels as though citizens themselves must organize collectively, beyond the limits of government institutions.

MÁC: Abụghị m ọkachamara n’isiokwu a, mana m ga-asị na usoro ịdọ aka na ntị nke Mexico tupu ala ọma jijiji eruo bụ ihe kwesịrị ka e tinye n’ọrụ n’ebe ọzọ. Dabere n’ebe etiti ala ọma jijiji ahụ dị, mkpu ịdọ aka na ntị nwere ike ịda ihe ruru otu nkeji tupu ala amalite ịma jijiji, nke a na-enye ndị mmadụ sekọnd olenaole bara uru iji tinye usoro ihe mberede a na-akuzi n’ụlọ akwụkwọ n'ọrụ ma na-eme ka ọ bụrụ ihe a na-emesi ike site n’ọzụzụ a na-eme n’obodo niile opekata mpe otu ugboro n’afọ. Sekọnd olenaole ahụ nwere ike ime nnukwu ihe dị iche ma zọpụta ndụ mmadụ.

Aga m ekwukwa banyere otu Mexico si etinye nnukwu mkpa n’igbochi ọdachi na nchekwa ụlọ. Iwulite omenaala a adịghị mfe; akụkọ ihe mere eme nke Mexico banyere ala ọma jijiji jupụtara n’oke ihe mgbu. Mana ahụmahụ ndị a emeela ka ọha nakwa ndị ọkachamara tinyekwuo ụkpụrụ iwu siri ike maka iwu ụlọ, usoro iji mee ka ụlọ sie ike, nakwa nyocha nchekwa nke ụlọ a na-eme mgbe niile.

Anyị ahụla otu enweghị usoro iwu na-amụ anya maka igbochi ọdachi nakwa enweghi akụrụngwa siri ike nke nwere ike iguzogide ọdachi si mee ka Venezuela bụrụ ebe ọdachi nwere ike imetụta n’ụzọ dị ukwuu. N’oge dị otu a, ọ na-adịkarị ka ọ bụ ụmụ amaala n’onwe ha ga-ahazi onwe ha n’otu, gafee oke ụlọ ọrụ gọọmentị.