LONDON, July 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

If you want to donate money to support those affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela, there are a number of trusted charities and organisations providing humanitarian relief on the ground.

The UK will aid match public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal up to £2 million.

Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Venezuela earthquake appeal

The UK immediatelycommitted £2 million to support the humanitarian response in Venezuela, to support lifesaving humanitarian efforts.

Donating essential supplies

One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed, and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed.

Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through. If you wish to donate goods, check with charities and community groups. They will have lists of items they need.

Making your donation safely

Charities with experience of responding to disasters are best placed to reach victims on the ground. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your money is safe and being used effectively:

* check the charity's name and registration number using the relevant charity register tool in your country. In the UK you can use thecharity register tool

* most charities with an income of £5,000 or more must be registered, which means they are regulated by theCharity Commission (England and Wales), theOffice of the Scottish Charity Regulator(Scotland), orThe Charity Commission for Northern Ireland(Northern Ireland) * make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information * if in doubt, ask the charity or organisation for more information

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

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