Mendoza stands with Venezuela in times of sorrow

Universidad de Mendoza, true to its humanist and Latin American vocation, cannot remain indifferent to the suffering that the Venezuelan people are experiencing today. The devastating earthquakes that occurred on June 24, which violently shook the central and northern parts of our sister nation, have left behind a scene of destruction that deeply moves our entire university community.

As an Argentine educational institution, we know well the significance of the ties that bind us to Venezuela: a shared history, a shared language, the same American land that has often taught us that the pain of a sister nation is also, in some way, our own. Therefore, on behalf of all of us who are part of the Universidad de Mendoza —authorities, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and graduates— we raise our voices to tell Venezuela that it is not alone.

We want these words to reach, above all, those who today are suffering the loss of a family member, a home, a beloved place. To them we say that we feel their pain, that we accompany them from afar with all our affection. We keep alive the hope that the strength and unity of the Venezuelan people -those same qualities that have sustained them in so many difficult moments of their history- will also be what help them through this harsh present and rebuild, step by step, what nature has destroyed.

We also recognize the enormous work of the rescue teams, healthcare personnel, Civil Defense, and all the helping hands—Venezuelan and from other sister nations—who are working tirelessly to save lives and alleviate the suffering of those affected. Their dedication is an example of humanity that deserves our utmost respect and gratitude.

From Mendoza, a province that has also experienced the destructive force of the earth and knows the struggle to rebuild after tragedy, we send our heartfelt condolences to all of Venezuela. May the growing international solidarity be a source of comfort, and may the unity between our peoples continue to be, as it always has been, a bridge of hope.