WILLEMSTAD – The Royal Netherlands Navy vessel HNLMS Groningen departed Curaçao once again on Monday afternoon carrying a second shipment of humanitarian aid to earthquake-stricken Venezuela, following the successful delivery of emergency supplies during its first relief mission.
According to a spokesperson for the Dutch Caribbean Defense Force, the vessel returned to Curaçao on Sunday after unloading its initial cargo in the port of La Guaira, where the relief supplies were handed over to local authorities and international humanitarian organizations.
The first shipment included drinking water and other essential supplies for communities affected by the devastating earthquakes.
As part of the ongoing operation, the ship's NH90 helicopter and Fast Raiding, Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) are also being used to scout the Venezuelan coastline and identify locations where aid can be delivered safely and efficiently. The distribution of assistance is being coordinated with international relief agencies based on the most urgent needs in the disaster zone.
The second humanitarian shipment consists largely of the same critical supplies. On Tuesday, crews loaded medical supplies, drinking water, food, generators and other basic necessities aboard the vessel before it departed at approximately 3:00 p.m.
Defense spokesperson Judith Kok said the primary objective of the mission is to save lives by ensuring that affected communities receive essential humanitarian assistance.
"Our mission is to help save lives by providing people with the necessities they need," Kok said. "We have the resources to help wherever assistance is needed, so as long as help is requested, we can continue providing support."
Defense has not indicated how long the humanitarian operation will continue, saying the duration of the mission will depend on the evolving needs in Venezuela as rescue and recovery efforts progress.
The deployment of HNLMS Groningen forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands' broader humanitarian response to the earthquake disaster, with Curaçao continuing to serve as a regional hub for relief operations, emergency flights and international rescue teams assisting Venezuela.