Belizean Students in Venezuela to Return Home 

Belize is bringing its students home from Venezuela, confirmed Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca on Wednesday. He said all five Belizean students studying in Venezuela are safe and will be returning to Belize, as conditions on the ground following the devastating back-to-back earthquakes remain dire.

“It’s a human tragedy. We certainly feel for our brothers and sisters in Venezuela,” Fonseca said. “We are working with CARICOM to provide assistance to Venezuela.”

According to Fonseca, Ambassador Annie Lou Burns, together with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, has remained in contact with the students. “all of them are fine… We’re bringing them back home. So they should be home very soon. Because as right now, the conditions in Venezuela are very dire. So we think it’s best for them to come home,” he said.

Venezuela’s official death toll stands to at least 2,295. Meanwhile, more than 11,000 people are injured and approximately 50,000 remain missing.

Rescue efforts continue, but forensic workers, opposition figures and UN officials have warned the true death toll is likely far higher than the government’s official count.