Through the power of social media and personal determination, Venezuelan independent journalist Valeria Quilarque has successfully reunited five families separated in the chaos following two powerful earthquakes.
Two earthquakes, both measuring above magnitude 7.0, struck the country in rapid succession on June 24.
Quilarque's grassroots initiative, launched immediately after the earthquakes, has been very helpful for those searching for their lost loved ones.
"After the earthquakes occurred, I started doing one thing, which was to go to major hospitals to collect and organize information about people who had been admitted. Because I know doctors at various major hospitals, they would tell me what medicines are most needed right now. I have a work team in Venezuela. After the earthquakes, several of us took action. We published information through social media platforms to collect various medicines, and then delivered them to those who needed them most according to doctors' requests. Additionally, through my social media platform, I also helped separated families reunite. I find this particularly meaningful, because by posting photos and missing person information, we truly helped some disaster-affected families reunite. So far, we have successfully helped five disaster-affected families reunite," she said.
Her efforts in coordinating medicine donations through her hospital contacts and reuniting families via social media have demonstrated how individual citizens can make a tangible difference in the wake of national disasters.
Venezuelan independent journalist uses social media to reunite 5 families after powerful earthquakes
Venezuelan independent journalist uses social media to reunite 5 families after powerful earthquakes
