Venezuela quake: Key services crippled and health workers missing
The UN aid effort - Key Facts Six days after the earthquakes, UNHCR reports widespread food shortages in La Guaira, the worst-hit state, with basic
The UN aid effort - Key Facts Six days after the earthquakes, UNHCR reports widespread food shortages in La Guaira, the worst-hit state, with basic services collapsed, connectivity largely cut, and rising tension over access to aid. A UNHCR rapid assessment across La Guaira, the Capital District, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo found about half of survivors sheltering with relatives or neighbours, while almost 40 percent are in streets, public spaces, churches, schools or improvised shelters that fall short of basic safety and hygiene standards. UNHCR also flagged unaccompanied and separated children among those surveyed. that fall short of basic safety and hygiene standards. UNHCR also flagged unaccompanied and separated children among those surveyed. As of Monday, authorities had confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 injuries and 15,866 people affected or displaced. WHO says health services are under extreme strain: of 21 verified facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón, three are in critical condition and six are structurally damaged or only partly functional, driving overcrowding, surgical backlogs and breakdowns in biosafety and morgue services., driving overcrowding, surgical backlogs and breakdowns in biosafety and morgue services.
WHO warned of rising outbreak risk — including measles, diphtheria, pertussis, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria — worsened by low pre-quake vaccination coverage and the loss of health workers, including those covering maternal care in La Guaira. including measles, diphtheria, pertussis, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria — worsened by low pre-quake vaccination coverage and the loss of health workers, including those covering maternal care in La Guaira. A 47-metric-ton UNICEF shipment of health, water and education supplies, drawn from the EU stockpile at its Copenhagen hub, arrived Tuesday, with more aid to follow. Combined with an earlier shipment from Panama, it should support over 100,000 children and families over three months, though UNICEF estimates 680,000 children need help and is appealing for $52 million for the response. Widespread shortages Six days after powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck central-northern Venezuela, “food shortages are widespread” in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, said UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. “Basic services have broken down and connectivity has been largely severed”, while community tensions are rising as access to assistance is constrained, added spokesperson Carlotta Wolf.
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