As emergency efforts scale up, aftershocks continue to rock Caracas, Venezuela, causing fresh panic among an already beleaguered population.
On 29 June, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock struck northern Venezuela, 5 days after the “doublet” earthquake that triggered an enormous humanitarian emergency.
The aftershock caused further damage to buildings in the region, while panic-stricken survivors fled their makeshift shelters.
“The scale of the destruction is unimaginable,” said Omar Khalifa who is part of Islamic Relief’s emergency response team in Venezuela.
“We just got back from one building that had completely collapsed and the ceiling had become the floor.
“We’re still getting tremors and aftershocks — yesterday some of the volunteers we’re working with had to evacuate their building because one of the aftershocks was so strong. Every aftershock causes people even more distress and trauma.”
This most recent aftershock follows a magnitude 4.7 aftershock on 26 June that collapsed the bridge connecting the town of Caraballeda to the port city of La Guaira, disrupting relief routes.
An increasing death toll
The confirmed death toll has risen to 1,700, with further significant increases expected as collapsed structures are cleared.
UN figures estimate there are more than 50,000 people missing after the window for rescuing trapped victims following a natural disaster exceeded 72 hours.
Millions more in northern Venezuela lack sanitation and other basic necessities.
“Tens of thousands of families are still homeless and still urgently need aid like food, shelter and medicine,” Omar Khalifa says.
“The situation at some of the evacuation sites is complete chaos, with people in distress and searching for loved ones who are still missing, and they don’t know if they’re dead or alive.
“They don’t know whether to grieve or keep hoping. Families are sheltering in basic tents and trying to work out what to do next and how to get help. Children are sick and don’t know where to go to get treatment.”
Second phase of recovery
Basic services in La Guaira have been partially restored, allowing for more humanitarian relief, but much of the city and nearby Caracas lies in rubble. Government figures state that 774 buildings across northern Venezuela have been damaged, of which 189 have been fully collapsed.
Search-and-rescue efforts are continuing but hopes of finding more survivors are fading. The closure of the 72-hour critical rescue window means focus transitions to supporting a rapidly-growing displaced population facing dire conditions.
“Local volunteer groups like the ones we’re partnering with are working miracles to get aid to people,” Omar Khalifa says.
“They just need more support as the scale of need is so huge.
“Now people are afraid the world’s attention will start to shift away while they still need urgent help.”
People in Venezuela urgently need your support. Donate to Islamic Relief’s Global Emergency Fund now.
