Venezuela earthquakes kill 1,943, as UN steps up food and medical aid

2026-07-01

Damage widens

In the series of major earthquakes that struck Venezuela in South America, House Speaker Rodriguez said on June 30 that the death toll had reached 1,943 and the number of injured had climbed to 10,571. UN agencies are moving quickly to expand assistance, saying food is becoming harder to secure in the disaster zone and that deteriorating sanitation is also a concern.

Food supply chain hit

According to a report released by the World Food Programme (WFP) on the 30th, the food supply chain in La Guaira state, north of the capital Caracas, suffered devastating damage. Victims are finding it difficult to secure food and water, and the WFP said it is operating around the clock to deliver aid to 500,000 affected people.

Medical system under strain

The World Health Organization (WHO), after examining conditions at medical facilities in the disaster area, said damage had also been confirmed at some hospitals. In addition to a shortage of medical staff, the growing number of patients waiting for surgery is placing 'considerable strain' on the medical front line. It also warned that the risk of infectious diseases such as yellow fever and dengue is rising.

US military also assisting relief

According to Reuters, the US military has deployed more than 900 personnel inside Venezuela to support relief operations.

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