July 2, 2026 — Tobago is stepping up to provide critical humanitarian aid to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela, as local authorities coordinate a major islandwide relief drive in solidarity with affected communities across the neighboring South American nation.
Following catastrophic twin earthquakes that claimed over 2,200 lives, destroyed more than 20,000 buildings, and left tens of thousands displaced, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has activated emergency collection hubs and community caravans to gather essential relief supplies. TEMA’s efforts form part of the broader national mobilization initiated by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with regional municipal corporations, the private sector, and faith-based organizations. Mobilizing Communities Across Tobago
Speaking on the humanitarian mobilization, TEMA Director Allan Stewart appealed to Tobagonians, village councils, and civil society groups to embrace the spirit of regional solidarity:
- Islandwide Collection Network: TEMA has established designated drop-off points at the Tobago Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) in Fairfield, partnering with local supermarkets and religious organizations—including the Lowlands Mosque—alongside mobile awareness caravans traveling between Scarborough and Charlotteville.
- Priority Relief Supplies: Donors are requested to contribute targeted, essential supplies, specifically non-perishable canned goods, potable bottled water with at least a three-month shelf life, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, baby formula, adult and infant diapers, feminine hygiene products, and durable sleeping mats or cots.
- Consolidated Shipping Logistics: Supplies collected across Tobago will be transported to Trinidad and consolidated at the Port of Point Lisas warehouse sheds before being dispatched via official maritime and air corridors to Venezuelan disaster management authorities.
Reporter Jewel Greene-George has the full details on the relief effort and how citizens across the island can contribute.
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