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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Colombia sends field hospital to Venezuela to aid earthquake victims

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Colombia deployed a field hospital to Venezuela to aid victims of earthquakes that occurred on June 24.
  • The hospital, operated by 35 Colombian medical professionals, can treat up to 150 patients daily and will function for two and a half months.
  • The deployment marks a new phase of Colombia's humanitarian response, focusing on healthcare after search and rescue operations concluded.

The Colombian government has dispatched a field hospital to Venezuela to bolster medical care for those affected by earthquakes on June 24. The tremors have resulted in at least 2,954 deaths, 16,592 injuries, and over 10,700 people housed in temporary camps, according to the latest official figures.

Coordinated by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and support from the Colombian Aerospace Force, the mission is set to operate for two and a half months. Admiral Ricardo Hurtado, deputy director for Disaster Management, stated that the medical center has the capacity to treat up to 150 patients per day.

The facility will be staffed by 35 professionals from Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Colombia, the country's sole internationally certified emergency medical team. Services will include emergency and stabilization care, general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetric ultrasound, clinical laboratory services, psychological support, medication distribution, and patient referral processes.

will operate for two and a half months

— Admiral Ricardo HurtadoThe deputy director for Disaster Management announced the duration of the field hospital's operation.

As part of the mission, the UNGRD provided 12 hospital beds and 1,000 body bags, donated by the Attorney General's Office. Additionally, 5,000 face masks were contributed by private individuals. This deployment signifies a shift in Colombia's humanitarian aid strategy for Venezuela, moving from search and rescue to strengthening healthcare services following the conclusion of specialized USAR COL-1 team operations.

Venezuelan authorities report that 10,702 individuals remain in 79 temporary camps established after the earthquakes. The coastal state of La Guaira, the most affected region, houses 6,655 people, while 3,234 are in shelters in Caracas and 813 in Miranda state. Efforts are now concentrated on clearing debris in La Guaira, as search and rescue operations diminish.

This capacity will allow for the provision of emergency and stabilization services, general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetric ultrasound, clinical laboratory, psychological care, medication delivery, and patient referral and counter-referral processes

— Admiral Ricardo HurtadoThe deputy director for Disaster Management detailed the services the field hospital will offer.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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