UNICEF: $65 Million Needed to Address Impact of Earthquakes in Venezuela

One month after Venezuela's devastating double earthquake on June 24, UNICEF is appealing for $65.7 million to fund its humanitarian response. The disaster has claimed at least 5,398 lives, injured 16,740 people, and left 17,907 individuals displaced, according to government figures. UNICEF aims to reach approximately 470,000 people, with a particular focus on 169,000 children, providing critical aid in health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, education, and child protection.

Manuel Rodríguez Pumarol, UNICEF's representative in Venezuela, highlighted the ongoing suffering of children and families. "A month after the earthquakes, children and families are still facing the consequences of this devastating catastrophe. Beyond the visible damage, the fear, uncertainty, and disruptions caused by displacement can have lasting impacts on children's well-being," he stated. UNICEF emphasized that children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to psychological distress, violence, neglect, exploitation, and family separation, which significantly increases risks to their safety and well-being.

UNICEF has already deployed over 82 metric tons of emergency supplies, including health kits, water purification equipment, and materials for early childhood development and recreation. In collaboration with the government, the organization supported mobile health teams that provided primary care, including vaccinations, to over 21,000 people. Essential medicines were also supplied to 198 health centers, enabling them to serve an estimated 49,000 individuals. Furthermore, more than 5,000 people have received nutrition services, encompassing screening for acute malnutrition, micronutrient supplementation, and counseling for pregnant and lactating women.

The double earthquake is the deadliest in Venezuela's recent history. The World Bank estimates the direct physical damage at $19.6 billion, warning that a slow reconstruction could impede the country's economic recovery for the next decade.

“

A month after the earthquakes, children and families are still facing the consequences of this devastating catastrophe. Beyond the visible damage, the fear, uncertainty, and disruptions caused by displacement can have lasting impacts on children's well-being