NGO Demands Transfer of Inmates from Earthquake-Damaged Venezuelan Prison

More than a month after earthquakes struck the La Guaira state, the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory (OVP) has raised alarms about the conditions at the Retén de Caraballeda. The NGO reports that at least 25 women remain incarcerated in the detention center, which it claims suffers from structural damage and lacks the minimum conditions necessary for the safety and well-being of the inmates.

The OVP asserts that the facility continues to experience severe failures in basic services. Specifically, they point to a wall that collapsed during the earthquakes on June 24, which authorities have allegedly failed to repair. The organization stated that the inmates have faced extended periods without access to potable water, relying on food brought by relatives. Although water supply has been partially restored, the OVP notes the water is too turbid for consumption and only suitable for personal hygiene.

The OVP also questions the authorities' decision to return female inmates to the Caraballeda center shortly after the tremors, while male prisoners were moved to a different, unaffected police station. The NGO detailed that the damage began on June 24 when a double earthquake caused a section of the rear wall to collapse. Inmates were evacuated by guards during power outages and access difficulties. The situation worsened with a false tsunami alert, causing panic. Days later, both male and female inmates were temporarily moved to the Macuto police station, during which time six women were initially reported missing, though some later surrendered. The OVP contends that holding women in a quake-affected facility violates their fundamental rights and contravenes national and international human rights standards.

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We demand the immediate intervention of the Caraballeda Detention Center and the urgent transfer of detained women to facilities that meet the minimum conditions established by national legislation and international human rights standards.