NGOs: Humanitarian aid has decreased two months after Venezuela earthquakes

Two months after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela's La Guaira state, international aid has significantly diminished, leaving thousands of displaced people in dire need, according to representatives from several NGOs. The double seismic event, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, officially claimed over 6,438 lives and left thousands more without homes.

Olga San Martín, vice president of the Spanish NGO Olvidados, highlighted the continuing emergency, stating that aid levels have dropped compared to previous weeks. Her organization is still providing food and setting up shelters, but many survivors lack basic necessities like fresh water and food. "No hay la cantidad de ayuda que había hace un mes, hace 15 días, sino que se encuentran sin agua fresca, sin comida," San Martín said, adding that Olvidados has distributed urgent hygiene kits as many lack even soap.

Aurora Pretel of the NGO Asociación Solidaridad Vasco Ecuatoriana echoed these concerns, noting a decline in international assistance and emphasizing critical needs for water, hygiene, and medical supplies. "El calor es terrible, es sofocante al día la deshidratación, la desnutrición. Entonces se necesita mucha ayuda en ese tema. Estamos instalando filtros de agua," Pretel explained. She described La Guaira as resembling a "war zone" with a "desoladora" (devastating) landscape of collapsed buildings.

Many of the displaced are housed in temporary shelters, such as a Mormon church in La Guaira, where daily meals are essential as residents lack cooking facilities. Vanesa Rodríguez prepares 500 meals daily for various areas, aiming to supply hot food and cold drinks to rescue workers and volunteers. However, some refugees, like Betzabeth Pérez, feel "abandoned" and await government responses regarding housing repairs or new accommodations. Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Henrique Capriles criticized the government for failing to update the official number of missing persons, stating that many families are still waiting for authorities to address their needs.