Earthquakes in Venezuela: Thousands of children urgently need help
UNICEF is on the ground, working alongside national authorities, partners and the UN system to provide life-saving support to children, adolescents and their families, address their most urgent needs in the aftermath of the earthquakes, and support their
- Español
- English
Two devastating earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 struck Venezuela on Wednesday, 24 June, leaving thousands of children and their families in urgent need of safe shelter, clean water and medical care.
In emergencies of this scale, children are among the most vulnerable. The disruption of the essential services they rely on puts their health, well-being and development at risk.
Urgent support is needed to meet these critical needs.
What has happened to children in Venezuela after the earthquakes?
The lives of thousands of children and adolescents have been turned upside down by the earthquakes. Many have lost their homes, while schools, hospitals, telecommunications networks and transport infrastructure have also been severely damaged or destroyed.
After an earthquake, children need urgent, specialized support to ensure they can quickly access essential services, including health care, water and sanitation, and protection services that help keep families together. Many of those who died or were injured are parents or caregivers.
Children experience emotional distress in different ways. While many may seem to be coping well at first, symptoms of trauma can appear later, once the initial shock has passed. This is why psychosocial support is a critical part of the humanitarian response.
What is UNICEF doing?
UNICEF teams are on the ground supporting the national response, alongside the government and partners to provide life-saving support to children, adolescents and their families, address their most urgent needs after the earthquakes, and support their recovery.
From the first days after the earthquakes, UNICEF has mobilized and delivered regional and global humanitarian assistance, including medical, water and sanitation supplies, as well as emergency health kits, wheelchairs, child-friendly space tents and recreational materials. We continue to scale up our emergency response to help ensure the well-being and protection of children.
What do children and families need after the earthquakes?
As part of the emergency response, UNICEF aims to reach approximately 470,000 people, including 169,000 children, with critical interventions in health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and education. UNICEF estimates that US$65.7 million is needed to respond to the earthquake emergency.
We call on our partners, donors and the international community to act quickly by providing flexible funding so we can reach the most vulnerable children when they need it most.