'We have to defend the flames of hope'

A Corkman is returning to Venezuela this Christmas to help those affected by the earthquakes which rocked the country in June earlier this year.

Clonakilty native Daniel Fitzpatrick - who travelled to the country this month to hand out supplies - intends to return in December and hand out shoes, clothes, and a Christmas present to 400 children.

"To everyone at home who gave, thank you, you made all this happen," he said.

On 24 June this year, two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter Scale, struck off the coast of Venezuela. The state of La Guaira was worst effected, where 80% of buildings reportedly collapsed.

As of August, there have been at least 6,500 fatalities and 226,700 injuries as a result of the dual shocks, which have exacerbated already existing humanitarian issues in the South American country.

At the beginning of October, Fitzpatrick travelled to Playa Verde in the state of La Guaira, where he handed out school packs for 220 children using almost €7,000 in donations raised on the fundraising platform GoFundMe.

The money also bought over 1,000 bottles of water and the same number of snacks, fans, rechargeable lights, extension leads, sports gear, and art supplies.

Of the €6,897 raised, after GoFundMe's fees, €5,661.13 was spent this month. The €1,015.31 left over went straight into the Christmas fund.

"There is hope in La Guaira. It may be a sliver of hope, but it's still there, and we have to do all we can to defend the flames of hope. That's why I'm going back," he said.

Many children in the region now attend school in tents. In one, Fitzpatrick said he met Andrea, a young girl who lost both her father and her home.

"She asked me if I was going to come back could I bring noodles the next time. When a child asks you for food, you know how bad the shortages are.

"Many of these children have lost family, their home, or both. This Christmas will be a hard one for them. I want each of them to have something new to wear, new shoes, and a present to open.

"The kids have to come first. They're the future," he said.

For his trip earlier this month, Fitzpatrick bought all of the supplies in Venezuela, and intends to do the same this Christmas. He said that the cost of the new shoes, clothes, and Christmas present works out to approximately €50 per child, which sets his goal between now and Christmas at €20,000.

Donations for his trip this Christmas close on 21 December, and can be made at www.gofundme.com/irelandforvenezuela.