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Venezuela Quake Survivors: Hope Fades Amid Rubble
30 Jun
Summary
- Rescue efforts for earthquake survivors in Venezuela are winding down.
- Approximately 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the quakes.
- UN agencies warn of looming hunger and disease among survivors.
Rescue operations in Venezuela for survivors of last week's twin earthquakes are drawing to a close, with hope dwindling for finding additional living victims. International rescue teams, including those from Ecuador and the U.S., have ceased their efforts after extensive work, particularly in Macuto, the hardest-hit area.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes have caused widespread destruction, with an estimated 59,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. This devastation is significant enough to be visible from space. Relatives and neighbors are also involved in searching through rubble, supplementing professional rescue efforts.
Concerns are mounting regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the aftermath. The United Nations has procured approximately 10,000 body bags, suggesting a death toll potentially higher than initially reported. The government estimates at least 1,750 fatalities and thousands injured, with around 16,000 people displaced.
United Nations agencies are sounding the alarm about the escalating risks of hunger and disease among survivors. The World Food Programme is appealing for $50 million to provide emergency food assistance to up to 500,000 people. The World Health Organization has highlighted the strain on Venezuela's healthcare system, with many medical centers damaged, and warned of disease outbreaks due to displacement and potentially low vaccination coverage.
The U.S. has dispatched essential supplies and is setting up an emergency field hospital to provide medical care to those affected.
