WILLEMSTAD – A group of Venezuelan travelers who had been stranded in Curaçao for several days following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela returned home on Sunday aboard a humanitarian flight operated by Avior Airlines.
The flight departed late Sunday afternoon from Curaçao International Airport (Hato) bound for Barcelona, Venezuela, bringing home passengers whose travel plans had been disrupted by the disaster.
The travelers had become stranded after powerful earthquakes forced the closure of Venezuela's main international airport, leaving hundreds of passengers unable to continue their journeys. Many of those affected were diverted to Curaçao, where local authorities and humanitarian organizations stepped in to provide emergency assistance.
During their stay, the Government of Curaçao coordinated a humanitarian response through the National Crisis Team. The operation involved several public and private organizations, including the Curaçao Red Cross, Curaçao Airport Partners (CAP), the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), Venex and numerous volunteers, who helped provide temporary accommodation, food and other essential support for the stranded passengers.
The humanitarian flight marked the beginning of the return of Venezuelan nationals who had been unable to reach their country because of the emergency.
Avior Airlines, which operates scheduled services between Curaçao and Venezuela, organized the special flight to Barcelona, Anzoátegui State, one of the destinations able to receive humanitarian traffic while relief and recovery efforts continue elsewhere in the country.
The return flight comes as international humanitarian assistance continues to flow into Venezuela following the earthquakes, with governments, aid organizations and private companies working to transport relief supplies and stranded travelers to and from the affected areas.