Venezuela earthquakes: What is MSF doing and how can I help?
A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela on the night of the 24th of June, followed by an even stronger 7.5 quake less than a minute later.
Early reports confirmed more than 164 people had died with over 700 injured. Today, the official death toll has risen to at least 1,430 people, with thousands more injured and many still missing. Infrastructure damage remains extensive, with at least 1,423 buildings damaged, including 8 hospitals. La Guaira remains the area with the greatest humanitarian impact, particularly in Caraballeda and Playa Grande.
On Thursday, June 25th, our team from Caracas managed to go to and assess the situation in La Guaira, one of the most hit cities from the earthquake. MSF delivered successfully an initial donation of emergency trauma kits (covering approximately 200 patients) to José María Vargas Hospital in La Guaira, where the hospital management very much welcomed MSF's support. In the coming 24-48h, we expect to continue donating trauma kits while scaling up resources, coordinating with partners while simultaneously refining a more comprehensive operational response.
Update on 29 June
Approximately 96 hours have passed since the earthquakes struck Venezuela. Search and rescue (SAR) operations continue, and isolated rescues of survivors are still being reported. However, the likelihood of finding additional survivors is decreasing rapidly with every passing hour. More than 2,000 SAR personnel from 44 teams representing 27 countries are currently deployed, and the SAR phase is expected to conclude in the coming days. Despite the significant national and international mobilization, there is limited heavy machinery.
The immediate emergency trauma phase is gradually coming to an end. Emergency departments that were overwhelmed during the first days after the earthquake are now receiving fewer patients, as most casualties have either been treated, referred to or have succumbed to their injuries.
How is MSF responding?
On Thursday, June 25th, our team from Caracas managed to go to and assess the situation in La Guaira, one of the most hit cities from the earthquake. MSF delivered successfully an initial donation of emergency trauma kits (covering approximately 200 patients) to José María Vargas Hospital in La Guaira, where the hospital management very much welcomed MSF's support. In the coming 24-48h, we expect to continue donating trauma kits while scaling up resources, coordinating with partners while simultaneously refining a more comprehensive operational response.
Update 29th June
MSF teams continue preparing and distributing emergency medical kits. To date, eight hospitals in Caracas and La Guaira have received supplies covering the treatment needs of approximately 3,500 patients. These donations have proven particularly impactful. As the only operational INGO present during the first hours following the disaster, MSF was able to fill critical supply gaps when hospitals had exhausted their emergency stocks.
As the trauma phase declines, operational priorities are shifting. MSF intends to progressively engage in medical humanitarian support at the rapidly growing number of informal displacement sites (IDP spontaneous camps) throughout the Caracas metropolitan area, where thousands of people remain without shelter following extensive structural damage. More than 1,500 buildings—predominantly residential—have reportedly been damaged, generating thousands of new internally displaced persons.
How can I help MSF in Venezuela?
Our teams are often among the first humanitarian responders on the ground for one key reason: because we are already there.
MSF has been working in Venezuela since 2015, providing vital services ranging from malaria treatment to sexual and reproductive healthcare. In 2024, MSF provided 166,900 outpatient consultations for people in Venezuela.
Right now, our teams are assessing the medical and humanitarian needs on the ground, donating emergency medical kits and filling critical supply shortages in a time of crisis for the Venezuelan healthcare system.
This is only possible because of donations from people like you.
By donating to us today, you will be helping to ensure we can respond to emergencies around the world, like the earthquakes in Venezuela at a moment's notice.
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OF EVERY € DONATED PAYS FOR MEDICAL PROJECTS
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