30/06/2026 03:41 - Internacionales
María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, stated from Panama that she is prepared to "do whatever is necessary" to return to Venezuela and help the victims of the devastating earthquakes that shook the country on June 24, 2026.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, June 29, Machado declared: "The time has come, it is my duty to stand with my people. We need to be together to embrace, to mourn, to grieve together, but also to give each other strength in this very difficult moment."
For international readers: María Corina Machado is Venezuela's most prominent opposition figure. She was forced into exile in late 2025 after years of persecution by the Maduro regime. Her Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 recognized her decades-long struggle for democracy in Venezuela.
Machado denounced that the closure of Venezuelan airspace ordered by Delcy Rodríguez's transition government prevents her from returning to the country. The opposition leader stated that her goal was to participate in support and coordination tasks, including the distribution of food and medicine.
She also reported that international rescue teams and journalists have faced obstacles entering or working in the affected areas, which would complicate the humanitarian response to one of the worst disasters in the country's recent history.
Context: The closure of airspace is an unusual measure during a humanitarian crisis. Normally, governments facilitate the entry of aid and rescue teams during natural disasters, making this decision highly controversial.
According to The New York Times, White House officials expressed frustration with Machado's repeated requests, calling them "ill-timed" and considering them a "political maneuver" during a humanitarian emergency.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio advised her in March 2026 not to return to the country for security reasons, prioritizing collaboration with Delcy Rodríguez's interim government.
The United States has deployed over $150 million in humanitarian aid and specialized rescue teams (DART) aboard C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, taking a leading role in the international disaster response.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes of June 24, 2026 constitute the deadliest seismic catastrophe in Venezuela in a century. The last comparable earthquake occurred in July 1967 near Caracas (the capital city), leaving 245 dead.
The coastal region of La Guaira (approximately 30 kilometers from Caracas) suffered the greatest damage. This territory already experienced a similar tragedy in 1999 when a landslide left thousands dead. The government has established 15 main shelters and dozens of temporary camps in schools across Caracas.
Geographical note: La Guaira is the main port state of Venezuela, located on the Caribbean coast, and serves as the primary gateway to Caracas. Its mountainous geography makes it particularly vulnerable to seismic activity and landslides.
Important: A total of 24 countries have sent more than 2,700 rescuers and 137 search and rescue dogs to collaborate in rescue operations.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
