Children silenced: Venezuela's earthquake victims lack official data

In the wake of the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, official data on the number of children affected remains conspicuously absent. While government ministries, Civil Protection, and affected governorships have released general emergency figures, breakdowns detailing the number of minors among the injured, missing, displaced, or deceased have not been publicly disclosed.

Despite individual stories of children impacted by the tragedy circulating in the media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) agree that minors are the least visible group. Many reports and social media videos, they note, often re-victimize children by showing them without guardians or in ways that disregard their trauma. Nearly three weeks after the earthquakes, the absence of official statistics prevents a clear understanding of how many children lost parents or legal guardians, became separated from families during rescue efforts, were transferred to hospitals outside their home regions, or are currently in temporary shelters without documentation.

Experts suggest that comprehensive reports typically take about three weeks to compile. However, NGOs like Cecodap, Aldeas Infantiles, Save The Children, Plan International, and Unicef are actively working in camps and shelters to advocate for the protection of children and adolescents. They emphasize that the well-being of minors cannot wait for official reports.

Cecodap and the Agency of Journalists Friends of Children and Adolescents (PANA) report that official state communications have provided insufficient attention to the needs of children and adolescents. They criticize the centralized nature of official information channels and aid distribution, along with restrictions on independent organizations and media access, as a communication strategy that limits the autonomous circulation of information.

Indira Rojas, coordinator for PANA, stated that the official number of affected children is still unknown. The lack of this crucial data impedes the ability to accurately assess the damage and prioritize necessary protection measures for Venezuelan children and adolescents.