Hope in the Rubble: Venezuelan Aunt Holds Rescued Boy, Eyes Missing Parents
In Caracas, 23‑year‑old Andreína Sarmiento arrived at the hospital’s pediatric ward to meet her nephew, two‑year‑old Kleiber Moran, after Jordanian rescuers pulled him from the rubble of his La Guaira home six days after the devastating earthquakes.
The boy’s rescue came with no literal injuries – “no fractures, just scratches,” said Sarmiento – but he had started in a state of shock. He began to cry, then to grumble and eventually soothed, sleeping through the night and showing signs of stability by Wednesday.
Sarmiento, who has been in constant contact with his brother’s wife, Ana Luz, a mother who “would always be at the child’s side,” expressed tears and relief upon learning he was alive. “I will take care of Kleiber with a mother’s warmth until my sister appears,” she told the BBC, hoping her brother and sister‑in‑law, who remain missing, will be found soon.
President Delcy Rodríguez described the rescue as “a source of hope for our people,” as the death toll climbs beyond the 2,295 officially recorded deaths. Tens of thousands of people are listed as missing, and the United Nations has prepared 10,000 body bags for the country.
Sarmiento’s relief is tempered by her longing for her sister’s return. She described the emotional sting of calling her sister “God, they are handing my son over to me,” a phrase that underscores the depth of family bonds amid disaster.
While Kleiber lies next to her, wrapped in a Spiderman blanket and surrounded by toys, Sarmiento’s faith remains unwavering. “As this child grows up, God willing, this will be his story,” she said, emphasizing her belief that their family has a purpose even in the face of tragedy.
