Barefoot and with only their phones, Fatima Andraca and her colleague managed to get out of the apartment hotel in Caracas where they had been living for a few months when the devastating earthquakes - with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 - shook Venezuela last week.
"As you can imagine, there was chaos and panic in the streets. We were both in shock," says Andraca.
After trying to help as best they could, they were evacuated to a safe area of the city. The first thing Andraca needed to know was that her staff were safe.
It was a long process because the network was down, but we managed to ensure that all of our staff were out of danger.
“A long way to go”
She and Save the Children then began what she describes as a marathon - the work of helping the affected children.
We have been supporting the authorities throughout the first phase of the rescue and search efforts. Today we started our psychosocial support for the children and all the specific activities related to first aid. We are trying to understand what they need so that we can provide the necessary assistance.
There is a long way to go, notes Andraca.
Frustration over the authorities' response is widespread among residents, but Andraca believes in empathy and solidarity with them as well, since they have also been affected.
I don't think anyone was prepared for this kind of emergency. Yesterday I was in a meeting with local authorities and they said to me: "Can you imagine half of our staff being buried under the rubble?"
Not seeing all the consequences
People have lost their homes, perhaps their entire families and all their belongings. Despite this, Andraca also sees children playing. They are trying to find a way to return to normal, she says, but warns:
We may not see the full impact today, but we will if we do not put in place protective measures and mental health strategies for them.
The sadness and loss that now characterise the Venezuelan people cannot be described, according to Andraca. But among them there is also great humanity. They have not given up.
"That's why we work with children. We have to show them light. We have to show them that we can continue," she says.
