The response to the devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela last week falls short of addressing the vast humanitarian needs, according to a prominent international relief organization.
Survival Chances Diminish
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) highlighted the dwindling chances of survival for the tens of thousands still missing. This acknowledgment comes after the crucial 72-hour survival window had passed.
“The scale of the response does not match the scale of humanitarian need,” the IRC noted in a statement.
Officials under acting President Delcy Rodriguez have reported at least 1,943 fatalities, with thousands more injured. Approximately 16,000 people are now homeless. Meanwhile, opposition sources claim around 43,000 people are missing.
Sombre Scenes in La Guaira
In La Guaira, at a temporary morgue located at the major state port, Andrea Montilla waited as relatives identified her cousin and grandmother’s remains.
“It’s been so painful, a long wait,” she said, her cousin’s mother is still unaccounted for.
Empty coffins and bodies in bags were scattered throughout the area. An unofficial spokesperson there mentioned personal losses but lacked precise figures on bodies returned to families or awaiting identification.
Efforts by local and international teams saw some success. Jordanian workers rescued a child, the only known survivor on the sixth day of operations.
Ongoing Challenges
In Macuto, a town in La Guaira, rescue teams from Ecuador and the U.S. ceased efforts after losing contact with a mother and her three children beneath a collapsed building. Major Jorge Montanero of the Ecuadorian EQ11 team expressed the grim reality: “We believe the days have already passed, and now we expect to find only death.”
According to NASA, 59,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed by the quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. The destruction is so widespread it is visible from space.
Many buildings lack professional rescue teams, leaving relatives and locals to search for survivors or bodies.
Gianluca Rampolla, the United Nations’ resident coordinator in Venezuela, warned of a higher death toll and said, “We are working with local authorities to secure 10,000 body bags.”
UN and Global Response
The United Nations warned of impending hunger and disease for survivors. The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking $50 million to support 500,000 people with emergency food aid over the next three months. If funding permits, they can assist up to 1 million people.
Currently, the WFP has provided enough food for 1,200 individuals in La Guaira and has established temporary feeding centers.
The World Health Organization has noted the strain on Venezuela’s healthcare system. At least three health centers are severely damaged, while others function only partially.