A few weeks after the earthquake that struck Venezuela, AVSI continues to stand alongside communities in La Guaira State, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
To strengthen the emergency response, a team of humanitarian and emergency response specialists has joined AVSI's local staff in the country, providing technical support and coordination for operations on the ground.
Fiammetta Cappellini, AVSI's Humanitarian Aid Unit Manager, is in Venezuela alongside colleagues involved in the emergency response and shares an update on the team's daily work.
The situation in Venezuela today
The official death toll from the twin earthquakes in Venezuela has surpassed 4,500 people, while more than 16,700 people have been injured. At least 20,000 people have lost their homes. Authorities have also reported damage to 856 buildings, including 190 that collapsed completely.
Of the 87 collective shelters established for people affected by the disaster, 26 are located in La Guaira State
"We have met people who have lost their homes, older people struggling to access healthcare, and displaced families trying to rebuild some sense of normalcy," says José Miguel Rodríguez, AVSI Country Representative in Venezuela. "Whether among the rubble, inside tents, or in baseball fields converted into temporary shelters, people describe the fear they experienced during the earthquakes and the enormous material needs they now face. Essential services have collapsed. Electricity is unavailable, but the most critical shortage is safe drinking water. People are also struggling to find medicines and other basic necessities, as well as, of course, safe shelter."
The situation is extremely difficult, yet resilience and determination remain strong.
"In the first days after the earthquake," José Miguel Rodríguez continues, "while carrying out AVSI's initial needs assessments, I met Teresa, a 75-year-old woman who had lost everything. Yet she told me, 'We people of La Guaira are strong. We will work hard and we will get through this.' At a time when communities are exhausted and living conditions remain extremely challenging, that determination is the first step toward recovery. Many people immediately stepped forward to help one another. With the support of the international community, we will rebuild. We have not lost the strength to start again."
How AVSI is supporting people affected by the earthquake
Thanks to its partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), local partners, and the generosity of thousands of donors, AVSI has already reached nearly 15,000 people, providing safe drinking water and essential relief items, as well as:
- 12,000 hot meals
- 33 tonnes of food supplies
- 10,000 ready-to-eat food packages
Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, visited the Cesar Nieves shelter in La Guaira, where AVSI distributes 3,000 meals every day with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP).
AVSI's emergency response: the next steps
AVSI continues to assess the evolving needs of affected communities and to plan the next phase of the response together with partners on the ground.
In the coming days, activities will include the distribution of essential relief items, hygiene kits, dignity kits, and materials for temporary shelters
