Venezuela Earthquake Toll Rises as UNHCR Scales Up Aid

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that humanitarian and protection needs have surged dramatically in Venezuela following last week’s devastating earthquakes. “Initial needs assessments on the ground in Venezuela show a dramatic spike in humanitarian and protection needs in recent days, as our teams evaluate the full impact of the powerful earthquake that struck last week,” UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf told a weekly press briefing. Wolf said La Guaira state, the worst-affected area, is now facing widespread food shortages. Disruptions to basic services and severed connectivity are also worsening conditions for the population. She stressed that UNHCR moved immediately to support affected communities and conduct rapid needs assessments. “Preliminary results show that 75 percent of respondents reported injuries in their communities, while 56 percent reported fatalities,” she said, adding that the elderly and people with disabilities face heightened risks due to limited mobility and reduced access to digital information. According to Wolf, UNHCR is now scaling up emergency aid and protection services, including distributing humanitarian supplies, assisting authorities in identifying needs on the ground, and deploying additional support for affected communities. “Venezuelan authorities have confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 injuries, and 15,866 people affected as of 29 June. Infrastructure damage is also extensive. A total of 189 buildings collapsed, while 666 others were damaged or partially collapsed,” she said. She reiterated the call for swift and flexible support for people in need and affected communities. UNHCR estimates it requires approximately $14.85 million to expand protection services, provide essential relief items, and support temporary shelter for 30,000 victims over the next six months. According to the United States Geological Survey, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday, 24 June, just 39 seconds apart. The magnitude 7.5 quake was centred about 23 kilometres southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy State, while the magnitude 7.2 quake occurred about 23.9 kilometres northeast of San Felipe, also in Yaracuy State.