|
|
Hello,
We’re writing with new updates on the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
As of July 6, more than 3,500 people have died, more than 18,000 remain homeless and 680,000 children are in need of urgent support.
Currently, thousands of people are still sheltering in tents without regular access to safe drinking water, running water and toilets — putting them at risk of skin infections, diarrhea and gastrointestinal illnesses. Thunderstorms and high daytime temperatures risk exacerbating the spread of infections. And as is the case in any emergency, children are particularly vulnerable.
In response, Save the Children is working alongside local authorities and partners to provide clean water and child protection services, distribute hygiene kits and essential supplies, deliver primary health care through mobile clinics and sending our Emergency Health unit (EHU) to expand access to lifesaving care. We've also established three child-friendly spaces where children can play, learn and receive critical mental health and psychosocial support. Since our response began, Save the Children has reached 2,981 people — including 1,199 women, 138 men, 759 girls and 886 boys — helping families access the support they need as they begin to recover. Below, you’ll find additional details and photos about our ongoing response. If you’re able to make a contribution to our Children’s Emergency Fund today, every dollar you give will unlock an additional $2 to TRIPLE** your support for children affected by the Venezuela earthquakes and humanitarian crises around the globe.
|
| Isabel* and her son David*, 9, visit a mobile health clinic outside Caracas, Venezuela. They fled their damaged home after the earthquake and are now living in a nearby tent. |
|
We’re supporting the health and nutrition of children and families affected by the earthquakes with a wide range of services.
In partnership with a local organization, Paluz, we’re providing primary healthcare services via mobile health clinics to reach families in areas cut off from medical care. We’re also supporting overstretched health facilities by addressing critical shortages of medicines, equipment and electricity as well as sending staff from our Emergency Health Unit to provide rapid services – ensuring health facilities can respond safely and effectively.
To support child nutrition, we’re delivering ready-to-eat food packages and responding to emerging nutrition risks among infants and young children.
|
| This bathroom was damaged by the earthquakes in one of the thousands of homes and buildings that are no longer safe for children. Families have been forced to share extremely limited toilets in informal camps, while others risk returning to damaged homes to use bathrooms despite fears the buildings could collapse. |
|
The informal camps where thousands are now sheltering lack a regular supply of drinking water, forcing families to buy and ration bottled water. Some camps have only one or two toilets – some of which were damaged by the earthquake – shared among hundreds of displaced people.
Isabel* from Caracas was displaced with her husband and three children and now lives in a tent in front of the building where her family used to live. Her oldest child, 9-year-old David*, was already suffering from a kidney problem. David's condition worsened after the family had to leave their home due to the lack of toilets and poor sanitation in the camp. He received treatment at Paluz's mobile clinic, supported by Save the Children.
"Mostly you just have to wait for someone else to go before you can go [to the toilet] too," said Isabel.
In response, we’re supporting access to safe water in affected communities; promoting hygiene practices and disease prevention in overcrowded shelters; addressing risks from damaged water systems and sanitation facilities; coordinating with partners to restore essential water and sanitation services; and distributing hygiene kits including soap, toothbrushes, menstrual hygiene supplies and household cleaning items.
|
|
Child Protection and Psychosocial Support
|
| Children play in a child-friendly space established by Save the Children and our local partner in an informal camp where hundreds of families are now sheltering after being forced from home. |
|
|
For children, experiencing an earthquake can cause lasting psychological trauma.
2-year-old Daisy* was with her father and mother, Yusmary*, when the earthquake struck and severely damaged their home. Daisy has largely stopped eating and lost significant weight. Yusmary says Daisy becomes distressed when she sees damage inside or outside the house.
“When she sees cracks on the floor, she starts crying and screaming. Then she calls me and says, ‘Mom, look at the floor.’ Before the earthquake, she used to eat normally, just fine. But after the earthquake, she got like this — she can’t even do the smallest thing because she jumps up and starts screaming.”
Working with our local partner, Construyendo Futuros, we’re providing mental health and psychosocial support to children and families at mobile health clinics. We’ve also set up two child-friendly spaces in Caracas and La Guaira, where children can take part in safe, structured recreational and learning activities, receive psychosocial support and regain a sense of normality.
Providing safe spaces for children in the first phase of an emergency gives them the chance to play, connect and continue learning, allowing them to process their experiences of loss and displacement, connect with peers and access mental health and psychosocial support.
Finally, we’re leading community-based protection campaigns to prevent violence, mitigate exploitation risks and help parents and caregivers learn stress management, self-care and how best to support their children during a crisis. Remember, it’s support that enables us to deliver this urgent relief for children and families in Venezuela and crisis zones worldwide. Please make a matched gift today to our Children's Emergency Fund and see your support TRIPLED** for the children who need us most.
We’ll have more updates from Venezuela in the weeks ahead.
Save the Children **As part of this special match offer, all donations will be matched 2X, up to $4.1 million. If we meet our match goal prior to receiving your one-time donation, your donation will not be matched but will still go to support our programs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2026 Save the Children Federation, Inc.
501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400 Fairfield, CT 06825
1-800-728-3843
Photo: Aisha Majid/Edwin Corona Ramos/Save the Children
*Names changed for protection
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
