Venezuelans in Australia have “mixed emotions” about the US air strikes on Caracas and the kidnapping and arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.

Many are celebrating the arrest of Maduro, who has been accused of murdering political opponents and rigging elections, but they are also worried about what the future holds.

Adelaide based Venezuelan refugee Liebniz Vanegas, who had to leave her homeland for political reasons, said the Venezuelan community was experiencing “mixed emotions”.

“There is hope because we may be seeing the beginning of the end of the dictatorship. But there is also fear and concern that even with Nicolas Maduro removed, a large part of the regime remains in place,” Ms Vanegas said.

“In Venezuela today people are being oppressed. Many are in detention or being killed,” she said.

Ms Vanegas said many of the ten million strong Venezuelan global diasporas are concerned about loved ones at home.

“Many of us are concern about the safety of family and friends and about what will happen,” she said.

“The best solution is for Venezuela to return to democracy in a peaceful transition and under which the entire leadership of the corrupt and criminal government is gone.

“For 25 years, they have led the country into extreme poverty which has meant that 10 million Venezuelans have been forced to migrate. Venezuela is the largest migration crisis in the world, and we are not in conventional war.

“There is a severe humanitarian crisis which means we need urgent, deep and meaningful change. We are hoping this is an important first step after 26 years of dictatorship.

“However, there is a long way to go and it is urgent to remove from power the existing corrupt leadership that has caused so much harm to our country so that Venezuela can return to stability and safety and its people can have true democracy,” Ms Vanegas said.

Ms Vanegas arrived in Australia in 2034 on a humanitarian ‘woman at risk’ visa. She fled Venezuela in 2018 for the Dominican Republic after suffering economic hardship and political persecution.

After being assessed by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, she was referred to the Un migration agency IOM for resettlement.

“I’m grateful for the support I have received and the opportunities this country has given me,” she said.

Melbourne-based Venezuelan community leader Nelson Ventura said that most community members were glad to see the end of Maduro but were worried about what comes next.

“The majority of Venezuelans are excited to see the possibility of change and a chance for democracy. But we are also worried how things will unfold,” Mr Ventura said.

“We are also uncomfortable with the way this was done. What we see now is a complex political situation and it is unclear how this will play out,” he said.

Recently arrived Venezuelan refugee Aaron (not his real name), who fled his homeland after being targeted by the regime for his political affiliations, says he is glad to see Maduro brough before but is worried about his mother, father and sister are still in the country.

“I’m really happy to see this corrupt dictator gone. But at the same time, I’m worried because my family is in Venezuela,” Aaron said.

“I haven’t been able to speak with his family about the attack on Caracas,” he said.

“We are hoping this might be the start of positive change in Venezuela and a return to democracy. But we don’t know how this will play out because the regime is effectively still in place.

“We also don’t want to be ruled by the United States and the air strikes and kidnap of Maduro were illegal acts,” Aaron said.

US President Donald Trump has said the US will “run” Venezuela and put the country’s massive oil reserves in the hands of US multinational oil companies. He has also threatened to intervene other counties, including Colombia and Cuba.

Meanwhile, Latin American community organisations are offering to support community members in need.

CEO of the Latin American Society South Australia (LASSA) Luis Gardeazabal said his organisation and others around the country were working with government agencies to try to help citizens and permanent residents stranded in Venezuela because of the closure of air space.

“LASSA is here to support the Venezuelan community in South Australia. We are currently working with the appropriate Australian Government authorities to assist with the identification of South Australian residents who may be affected by the current situation in Venezuela, specifically Australian citizens and permanent residents who are currently in Venezuela, have a connection to South Australia, and are unable to leave the country due to the situation,” Mr Gardeazabel said.

“If anyone is aware of a person who may fall within this group, they, or a trusted contact, can reach us at info@lassa.com.au,” he said.

Venezuelan Association of Australia (VAA) president Genesis Lindstrom said watching events unfold while communicating with family back in Venezuela in real time was harrowing.

“To be honest, it was a bit shocking. The intervention and military action were things that we have been hearing rumours about,” Ms Lindstrom said.

“But to actually start receiving messages on WhatsApp and social media with videos showing helicopters flying around, and getting messages from my family that they are filming from their window was quite harrowing,” she said.

Ms Lindstrom said her community were feeling conflicting emotions of fear and hope.

“This is something that we, the Venezuelan diaspora, have been experiencing over the past twenty years,” she said.

“We are familiar with the emotional wrench of seeing our family suffer on the other side of the world and not being able to do anything but send good wishes and pray for them and send money, when possible,” she said.

Since 2014, 7.7 million Venezuelans, or about 20 per cent of the population, have left the country because of economic hardship or to seek better opportunities abroad, according to the UN’s migration agency IOM.

Neighbouring Colombia has received the largest number of this diaspora, with 2.8 million, followed by 1.7 million in Peru, according to IOM.