Venezuela's Humanitarian Crisis
Venezuela's quake-hit communities face illness surge; UN appeals for $300M amid humanitarian crisis
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A month after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, a full-blown health crisis is spreading through the hardest-hit communities. Chronic illness and diarrhea cases have surged in La Guaira, the northern state where most of the destruction occurred, as overwhelmed relief services struggle to keep up with demand, AP News reported.
The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for roughly $300 million to help 1.3 million people in urgent need. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez's government estimates the earthquakes left about 18,000 people homeless and caused widespread damage to housing and infrastructure, according to News4Jax.
Health Crisis Hits Quake Survivors in La Guaira
La Guaira bore the brunt of the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month. Now, residents face a second wave of suffering. Diarrhea and chronic illness are spreading rapidly through communities that already had little access to clean water or functioning hospitals, AP News reported.
On Thursday, relief services run by nongovernmental organizations were flooded with victims. Earthquake survivors and even people who escaped the physical destruction showed up seeking help. Mobile kitchens and field hospitals have been set up in public spaces across the affected areas, Audacy reported.
UN Seeks $300 Million as Local Groups Lead Relief Effort
The UN's emergency appeal targets 1.3 million Venezuelans in urgent need. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said most aid so far has come from local groups working alongside global humanitarian organizations. His statement highlights how stretched international resources remain, according to The Spec.
Global relief groups have struggled to scale up fast enough. Local partners have filled the gap, but the demand is far outpacing what they can provide. The $300 million appeal is meant to fund food, medicine, shelter, and clean water for affected communities, Journal News reported.
18,000 Left Homeless With Infrastructure Still in Ruins
The Rodríguez government puts the number of displaced people at around 18,000. Homes and critical infrastructure across La Guaira were damaged or destroyed. Many residents have nowhere to return to, forcing them into makeshift shelters with poor sanitation — a key driver of the spreading illness, AP News reported.
The damage to roads and utilities has also slowed the delivery of aid. Clean water systems in many areas are still not working. That breakdown is a direct cause of the diarrhea surge now overwhelming field hospitals and mobile clinics, according to News4Jax.
Venezuela's Pre-Existing Crisis Deepens Recovery Challenges
Venezuela was already facing a severe humanitarian emergency before the earthquakes hit. Years of economic collapse have gutted public health and infrastructure systems. The quakes struck a country with little buffer left, making the recovery far harder than it would be elsewhere, Audacy reported.
Fletcher's warning that local groups are carrying most of the weight signals a wider gap in international response. With the UN's $300 million appeal just launched, funding has not yet arrived at the scale needed. For now, 1.3 million Venezuelans are waiting, Journal News reported.
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