CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Hugo Chavez Thanks Solidarity of Cuban Doctors alter Heavy Rains

CUBA, December 8th, 2010.- Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez thanked on Tuesday the support of Cuban doctors who have attended to thousands of people who suffered the consequences of the heavy rains that have affected this South American country over the last few weeks.

After praising the contribution of the Cuban health professionals who travel to remote places of the Venezuelan territory where the heavy rains have caused a lot of damage, he thanked the Cuban medical brigade there on behalf of the Venezuelan people.

Chavez also thanked assistance offers from countries the Americas, Europe and Asia. In this regard, he added that he received calls from the presidents of Brazil, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

The Venezuelan head of state also expressed his solidarity with Colombia, which has also been hit by this natural phenomenon.

The heavy rains have ruptured dams and have caused mudslides and flooding, killing at least 24 people and leaving thousands of houses destroyed as well as significant damage to the road infrastructure in eleven Venezuelan states.

In the light of these events, Chavez has decreed the state of emergency in the states of Falcon, Vargas, Miranda, Zulia, Merida, Trujillo, Nueva Esparta and the Distrito Capital. (Cubaminrex-Cuban News Agency)