Guyana is expected to send a humanitarian aid vessel to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela by the end of the week, joining a growing regional relief effort to support thousands of people affected by one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than 100 years.

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said preparations are progressing as planned to load and dispatch the vessel, which will transport approximately 8,000 tonnes of relief supplies to communities affected by last week’s catastrophic twin earthquakes.

“We are hoping to have that ship loaded by this weekend,” the President said