From Rescue to Sustained Care: Red Cross Remains with Venezuela After Quake

When the earth stopped shaking, the fear lingered for Agatha Suárez and her three young children with disabilities in Catia La Mar. Survivors of the double earthquake, they faced sleepless nights and the urgent need for safety.

"We didn't just fear not seeing our friends, neighbors, and family again," Suárez recounted from a shelter in San Martín, Caracas. Her experience highlights how the emergency quickly shifted from a rescue mission to a broader struggle for health, communication, and stability.

The Venezuelan Red Cross maintained a significant operation in Caracas and Vargas state, deploying medical personnel, rescuers, technical teams, and volunteers. Their response unfolded in distinct phases: the initial activation on the night of June 24-25, the subsequent establishment and reinforcement of field hospitals, and the integration of international cooperation as needs evolved.

The primary field hospital was set up at the Jorge Luis García Carneiro stadium in Macuto, Vargas state. This facility offered more stable care, including medical consultations, trauma treatment, chronic disease follow-up, pediatric services, pharmacy, and psychosocial support, helping to alleviate pressure on other health centers. Tomás Brewer, director of the field hospital, noted that consultations ranged from headaches to more complex issues.

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We didn't just fear not seeing our friends, neighbors, and family again