After the recent tragedy that occurred in La Bata, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, where strong explosions left dozens of injured, deceased and heavy material losses, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ratifies its solidarity with the African nation by sending a flight with humanitarian aid to attend to victims, as was reported in a press release from the Venezuelan Chancellory.
Representing the Venezuelan people and President Nicolás Maduro, the Vice Minister for Africa of the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Relations, Yuri Pimentel, arrived in the city of Bata to deliver the cargo with supplies, food and essential items that symbolize «A message of brotherhood and solidarity towards the brotherly people of Equatorial Guinea, towards his excellence president (Teodoro) Obiang».
In this sense, the diplomat highlighted the importance for Venezuela of being present in these difficult moments that the African nation is experiencing. “We could not be missing without a people and a country that we feel like ours. That is what we are for, for friendship and solidarity, especially in difficult times, so count on us, count on the people of Venezuela”.
Upon arriving in the African country, Vice Minister Pimentel was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Simeón Oyono Esono Angüe, and later met with the Vice President and in charge of National Defense and State Security, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, to express Venezuela’s commitment to supporting this sister nation.
Explosions caused human and material losses
On March 7, several explosions of strong intensity shook the city of Bata, a commercial center of Equatorial Guinea, in central Africa, causing unfortunate human and material damage. The explosions originated in the Nkuantoma barracks and destroyed a large part of the military installations located in that area, as well as the houses and nearby buildings.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), satellite images «show that the explosion caused considerable damage in a radius of 800 meters.»
