WFP Expands Aid in Venezuela, Targets 500,000 Earthquake Victims

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding its humanitarian operations in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, targeting up to 500,000 people in the worst-affected areas to receive food assistance.

“WFP has begun distributions in La Guaira, the hardest-hit province, providing 1,200 people so far with food packages containing a month’s supply of rations (cereals, pulses, and vegetable oil), and has set up temporary food distribution centres in the area,” the WFP said in a statement on Tuesday.

As the scale of the disaster becomes clearer, the WFP is also extending its operations to other affected regions of the country.

The WFP currently has over 3,000 tonnes of food stocks in Venezuela, enough to meet the needs of more than 10,000 families for two months. The agency is also continuing to send additional supplies.

Meanwhile, over 1,400 tonnes of essential aid from various humanitarian partners have been prepositioned at a UN warehouse in Panama and are ready for shipment to Venezuela.

If adequate funding is made available, the WFP’s operational capacity will be increased to meet the food needs of up to one million people.

Last week, Venezuela was rocked by twin earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5. According to the latest official data, the disaster has killed 1,943 people and injured more than 10,500 others.