CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela — In the aftermath of last month’s devastating twin earthquakes, communities in Venezuela face a growing humanitarian crisis characterized by surging health demands and strained relief services. On Thursday, survivors and those unaffected by the quakes flooded nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the hardest-hit areas, seeking assistance as urgent needs intensify.
The United Nations has launched an appeal for approximately $300 million to support 1.3 million people in critical need, marking a significant shift in Venezuela’s aid landscape where NGOs, previously met with government repression, now collaborate openly with global humanitarian entities. Mobile kitchens, clinics, and field hospitals have been established in La Guaira, the northern state most severely impacted by the earthquakes.
“After two weeks, we’re seeing people arrive not just with fractures but with pre-existing health conditions they couldn’t manage during displacement,” U.N. emergency coordinator Tom Fletcher told the Associated Press during a site visit. “Addressing these needs is essential to prevent further suffering.”
In Catia La Mar, local healthcare providers reported spikes in skin infections, diarrheal illnesses, and increased requests for chronic disease medications like insulin and blood pressure treatments. These conditions stem from overcrowded shelters, inadequate water sanitation, and precarious living conditions that existed before the earthquakes.
Irma Echarri, 67, presented at a mobile clinic with discarded eyedrops and painkillers, seeking replacements while also addressing facial pain triggered by the seismic events. “It’s excruciating,” she said, adding, “because I can’t stop feeling it.” Her home survived the disaster, though neighbors now occupy makeshift shelters after 190 buildings collapsed and 856 others sustained damage.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has acknowledged that the earthquakes displaced roughly 18,000 Venezuelans, who now reside in schools, public plazas, and parks. U.N. humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher noted U.S. agencies have largely funded the response, with local partnerships coordinating field operations. He emphasized that crisis conditions have temporarily eased political tensions: “In emergencies, everyone prioritizes saving lives.”
Zulbey Reyes, a displaced former nanny, received treatment at a clinic operated by Venezuela’s Paluz in partnership with the International Rescue Committee. Diagnosed with inflamed nerves from earthquake-related trauma, she described her chest pain as psychosomatic: “It started after screaming that day—it’s a nerve, not my heart.”
The U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimates direct infrastructure damage at $37 billion. While this coordination marks a reversal from prior years of NGO suppression under former President Nicolás Maduro, the government’s current approach reflects pragmatic disaster-management priorities over ideological confrontation.