BBVA Donates €5 Million and Mobilizes Humanitarian Aid to Support the People of Venezuela Following the Earthquakes
BBVA has announced a €5 million donation to support the humanitarian response in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Venezuela. The contribution will support initiatives launched by the Red Cross, UNICEF, UNHCR, and other local organizations, both to address the most urgent needs and to contribute to subsequent reconstruction efforts. In addition, the BBVA Group has launched fundraising campaigns among clients and employees to expand support for the emergency and has rolled out other initiatives to support the population during this initial phase of the emergency.
“The news coming from Venezuela deeply saddens us. At BBVA, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.In addition to our donation and fundraising campaigns, we are working on measures to help our employees and clients return to normality as quickly as possible,” said Carlos Torres Vila, Chair of BBVA.
The BBVA Group has rolled out various humanitarian support initiatives in response to the recent earthquakes in Venezuela.
- To address the most urgent needs arising from the emergency—including search and rescue operations, medical care, access to water and sanitation, temporary shelter, and the distribution of essential supplies—a €5 million donation will be made to the Red Cross, UNICEF, UNHCR, and a number of local organizations, with support from BBVA Provincial (BBVA’s subsidiary in Venezuela) in channeling the funds and identifying and coordinating those local organizations.
- Meanwhile, BBVA Provincial has launched a comprehensive support plan for affected employees and their families, including assistance measures, psychosocial support, temporary housing, and preventive actions to help protect their well-being. It has also introduced measures to support clients and communities affected by the emergency, including the temporary waiver of fees for transactions between BBVA Provincial accounts, helping ensure continued access to financial services during the emergency. In addition, it has converted its headquarters into a collection center for receiving, sorting, and distributing essential supplies. At the same time, the bank continues to monitor the impact of the situation on its customers and employees and to assess further support measures in line with developments on the ground.
- The BBVA Group has also launched fundraising campaigns among clients and employees in several countries:
- In Spain, anyone wishing to donate may do so through the BBVA app by selecting Bizum, then “Donate to worthy causes,” and entering the relevant code, or by making a bank transfer to any of the following accounts: Spanish Red Cross: ES92 0182 2370 4600 1002 2227 (Bizum code 33467); UNICEF: ES78 0182 2370 4202 0851 6491 (Bizum code 05348); and UNHCR: ES18 0182 2325 0102 0800 2783 (Bizum code 09824). Donations can also be made in person at any BBVA branch.
- In Mexico, clients, employees, and the general public can support the Red Cross by making a donation to account number 0120305200, Standard Bank Code (CLABE) 012180001203052005.
- In Argentina, employees can make donations through the Red Cross website.
- In Colombia, employees can make donations to BBVA account number 777001919, while clients will be able to contribute to the fundraising campaign that will be launched through BBVA ATMs in the coming days.
- In Peru, donations from clients and employees will support UNICEF’s efforts in Venezuela (more information here).
- Furthermore, the BBVA Group has delivered 28 tons of humanitarian aid (food and hygiene products) to Venezuela through Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Last but not least, specialists from across the Group are providing technical support to BBVA Provincial. Among them, teams from Mexico with extensive experience in earthquake damage assessment are working closely on building inspections and repair efforts.