In Venezuela, the weekend was marked by the relentless efforts of rescue workers and a death toll that, unfortunately, continues to rise: according to the latest available data, the confirmed death toll has reached nearly 1,500, with approximately 3,238 injured.
Hospitals are under extreme pressure, while thousands of people continue to face the aftermath of the earthquake without a safe home, without essential services, and living in fear of new tremors.
Many families are still spending the night in makeshift camps, in parks, and on the street. For those who have lost everything, even the simplest decisions have become difficult: where to sleep, where to find water, how to protect their children, and if and when it will be possible to return home. A special commission will be tasked with assessing damage to buildings and determining whether people can safely return to their homes.
The risk remains high. Following the two initial strong earthquakes, more than 430 aftershocks have been recorded. On Monday afternoon, when it was still early morning in the country, a new 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas north of Caracas. No injuries were reported, but the fear was great: every new tremor reopens the trauma of those first moments.
CESVI’s aid continues to arrive
Immediately after the disaster, CESVI conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment to understand the humanitarian impact of the earthquake and identify the most urgent needs of the affected communities. Teams on the ground focused on four key sites in the Capital District and the State of La Guaira, where more than 810 people in highly vulnerable conditions were identified.
Initial findings confirm a severe deterioration in living conditions. The most urgent priorities include emergency shelter, food assistance, access to safe water, and psychological and psychosocial support for people who have lost their homes, their belongings, and, in many cases, all sense of normalcy.
CESVI’s response focuses on the distribution of emergency shelter kits and non-food items, food rations or hot meals, and the deployment of mobile psychological-first aid teams. In La Guaira, where access to safe drinking water remains a critical issue, CESVI will also provide water through emergency water tanks or water purification equipment, while assessing the need to install water storage tanks where necessary.
Particular attention will be given to children, who are among the most vulnerable to the consequences of the emergency. Displacement, the loss of their homes, fear of earthquakes, and the disruption of their daily routines can have a profound impact on their wellbeing. For this reason, psychological-first aid interventions will include specific measures to protect minors.
Education in Emergencies interventions are also planned to reestablish safe spaces, routines and educational opportunities even in the thick of the emergency. Activities will focus in particular on the Rafael Rangel Elementary School, which is currently in precarious condition and is being used as a shelter for many children.
The CESVI team in Venezuela took action immediately after the earthquake, distributing emergency kits and providing support to the most vulnerable. In the coming days, the emergency team will be reinforced by the arrival of additional colleagues in the field.
During these critical hours, every bit of help can make a difference. Join those who are supporting the families affected by the earthquake in Venezuela.
