International
chilean mothers harness AI to seek children stolen during Pinochet era”
The organization Sons and Mothers of Silence (HMS) has launched an international campaign to search for the thousands of children who were stolen during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship (1973-1989) and given to other families around the world.
The initiative includes demanding an apology from the Chilean state for what happened and a project to recreate the faces of these children using Artificial Intelligence.
“I always felt oppressed because I was the first mother in Chile to denounce the illegal adoption of two of my children. Everyone was afraid of Pinochet,” explained Ruth Cárdenas to EFE during the presentation of the international search campaign ‘The Children of the Dictatorship’, at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in the Chilean capital.
Meanwhile, the founder and president of the HMS foundation, Marisol Rodríguez, told EFE that they are asking the “State to take responsibility for this, for justice and reparation.” Additionally, they want “a state DNA bank to be established and for apologies to be issued, not only by Chile but also by all the countries involved, such as France, Italy, Sweden, and many more.”
This new initiative involves creating, through digital genetics and artificial intelligence, images of the children who never had photos taken, showing what they would look like today, with the aim of disseminating them and “reuniting them with their true families,” detailed the organization, founded in 2014.
Children disappeared during the dictatorship
HMS estimates that 20,000 Chilean children were sold to Europe and North America, while mothers were told by the military and other agents of the regime that their children died after birth, without allowing them to see their corpses.
“My mother has been telling her sad story for forty years and the State has no willingness to acknowledge the crime,” said Andrea Mercado to EFE, daughter of Ruth Cardenás and sister of the two children stolen during the dictatorship.
Amelia Flores gave birth to her son in 1974, who died two hours after birth; but now she does not know if that is the real story.
“My daughter, my ex-husband, and I have been searching for my other son for three years; he would have turned fifty now. I just need them to tell me if he really died, to prove it to me,” Flores said in an interview with EFE.
The Chilean dictatorship
The event was also attended by the former president of the Special Investigative Commission of State Organizations’ Acts, Boris Barrera. “I have mixed feelings. It is good that this organization is strengthened with these meetings, but I don’t know if it is something to celebrate, because the idea is that these organizations should not exist because these human rights violations should never have existed,” he said.
The director of the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, María Fernanda García, explained in her speech that they are facing “the horror of horror” of the dictatorship, referring to the children and therefore, the most vulnerable.
Chile’s dictatorship lasted 17 years and left more than 40,000 victims, including executed individuals, disappeared detainees, political prisoners, and torture victims, according to figures from the official commission that collected testimonies from victims and their families. More than 3,200 Chileans died at the hands of state agents.
The government of current president Gabriel Boric launched an unprecedented campaign to search for disappeared detainees aimed at clarifying the fate of 1,469 people, of whom only 307 have been found.
International
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to an assessment released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.
The organization said the projections are based on available population data and damage assessments, and include up to two million people living in Caracas, the country’s capital.
The estimates highlight the potentially massive humanitarian impact of the disaster, the IOM warned.
Entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, following the powerful twin earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on Wednesday.
The national death toll has risen to 920, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble in coastal regions and other affected areas.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told AFP on Friday that more than 50,000 people were reported missing.
The IOM also revealed that it worked with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence laboratory on an initial satellite mapping analysis, which showed that 31.5% of buildings in the town of Catia La Mar had suffered damage.
Authorities and international rescue teams continue operations as Venezuela faces one of its largest humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
International
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed his condolences to the people of Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and highlighted the ongoing coordination between UN humanitarian teams and interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Speaking during the UN’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by the loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” Dujarric stated.
Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to official figures, the disaster has left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured.
Dujarric noted that preliminary reports indicate significant damage across several states, including the capital, Caracas. Numerous casualties have been reported, while other individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures or are still missing.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and essential services have been disrupted,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations confirmed that its humanitarian team remains in close contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other relevant authorities as emergency operations continue.
To support relief efforts, the UN has established a coordination center in Caracas and is assisting local authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Guterres also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and offers of assistance from countries around the world that responded following news of the disaster, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian emergency.
International
OAS Secretary General Pledges Regional Assistance Following Venezuela Quake Disaster
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, said on Thursday that the “hemispheric community” stands ready to provide “full support” to Venezuela and its people following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country overnight, leaving at least 164 people dead and nearly 1,000 injured.
Speaking at the conclusion of the OAS General Assembly, Ramdin expressed solidarity not only with Venezuela but also with Colombia, Curaçao and Aruba, where the tremors were also felt.
“Above all, our thoughts are with these peoples,” he said during his remarks.
Ramdin noted that while many details about the disaster are still emerging, countries across the hemisphere are prepared to assist Venezuela as it responds to the crisis.
“Much remains unknown at this stage, but the hemispheric community will be ready to support the people of Venezuela during this very difficult time,” he stated, reiterating the organization’s commitment to helping those affected.
According to updated information released by the Venezuelan government, the powerful earthquakes have been followed by at least 30 aftershocks. Authorities have also reported extensive structural damage, including numerous building collapses in La Guaira, the area considered hardest hit by the disaster.
Rescue efforts are currently focused on La Guaira, where emergency teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble as officials assess the full extent of the damage.
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
OAS Secretary General Pledges Regional Assistance Following Venezuela Quake Disaster
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