July 24, 2026, 1:06 p.mJuly 24, 2026, 1:06 p.m
One month after the severe earthquakes in Venezuela, in addition to caring for those affected, the focus is increasingly on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure. “Now is the moment when we move from acute emergency aid to transitional aid, i.e. towards reconstruction,” said Katja Dombrowski from Welthungerhilfe to the German Press Agency.
The earthquake in Venezuela has claimed thousands of lives.Image: keystone
According to the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, the number of confirmed deaths is now 5,398. More than 16,740 people were injured, as Rodríguez announced. The United Nations estimates that 1.3 million people need humanitarian assistance as a result of the earthquakes.
Water and living space are missing
According to Dombrowski, restoring the water supply is particularly urgent. In the severely affected areas, the water infrastructure has been partially destroyed. People are therefore supplied with bottled water, among other things, which is not a long-term solution.
In addition, homes, schools, health care and other infrastructure would have to be restored. Many people also lost their jobs, for example in the coastal area of La Guaira, which is dominated by tourism.
Venezuela will depend on international support for reconstruction, said Dombrowski. Given the country’s difficult economic situation and global cuts in humanitarian aid, financing is a key challenge.
Concern for pregnant women and hygiene
Other aid organizations also report continued great needs. According to Save the Children, pregnant women and mothers are particularly in need of medical care, nutritious food and safe shelter. According to UN estimates, around 36,700 pregnant women have been affected by the earthquakes, and around 4,000 of them are due to give birth next month. Many families live in tents that offer them little protection from heat and rain. The Maltese warned of the consequences of poor hygienic conditions in the emergency shelters.
Damage in the billions
The two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24th. The World Bank estimates they caused almost $20 billion in direct property damage. Almost half of the damage occurred in residential buildings. The state of La Guaira and the Distrito Capital with the capital Caracas were particularly affected. (dab/sda/dpa)