The humanitarian situation in Venezuela is rapidly deteriorating in the aftermath of the two devastating earthquakes on June 24, with fears the true scale of the catastrophe is still emerging and could reach up to 100,000 casualties. Source: Caritas Australia.
Current official figures confirm at least 1700 people have died, more than 5000 have been injured, and tens of thousands remain trapped or missing. Entire housing complexes have crumbled, including up to 16 towers in the city of La Guaira alone.
Caritas Venezuela has worked in the country since 1963 and is present in all states through its diocesan network.
Prior to the earthquakes, the organisation was supporting more than 60,000 vulnerable households amid an economic crisis that left 7.9 million people already requiring humanitarian assistance.
Critical infrastructure has been badly damaged across multiple states, including Caracas, La Guaira and Miranda, where mass displacement is underway and communities remain cut off or unsafe.
Caritas Venezuela further reports that “hospitals are overwhelmed” and urgently require field hospitals, medical supplies, blood, surgical equipment and trauma specialists. Water and sanitation systems have failed, and thousands of families are sleeping outdoors amid ongoing aftershocks and fear of further collapse.
Humanitarian needs are immense and immediate, including search and rescue teams, emergency medical care, food, clean water, sanitation, shelter, and psychosocial support.
Despite the scale of the disaster, local communities have shown extraordinary courage and solidarity.
Caritas Venezuela described how “from the very first hours, thousands of Venezuelans poured out their support: neighbours rescuing neighbours, families sharing what little they have, and volunteers tirelessly giving their time and effort.”
But local capacity alone cannot meet the scale of need.
Caritas Venezuela has activated a nationwide emergency response, deployed thousands of volunteers and coordinated aid delivery through its extensive network, which reaches even the most remote communities.
But the charity warned that “this tragedy will not be resolved in days. The emergency will give way to recovery and then to reconstruction, and at each stage we will need the same solidarity that moves us today.”
Caritas Australia chief executive Kirsten Sayers said the “scale of human suffering unfolding in Venezuela is immense, and the worst may still be ahead”.
“Behind every number is a family searching for a loved one, a child sleeping in the open, or a community that has lost everything.”
To support Caritas Australia’s Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au/venezuela.
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Unfolding catastrophe in Venezuela threatens tens of thousands more lives (Caritas Australia)
