Americares Response to Venezuela Earthquakes

Four months after back-to-back earthquakes buried parts of Venezuela under rubble, Americaresis supporting mental health needs of survivors and improving access to clean water and sanitation.

The strongest in more than a century, the late June quakes killed more than5,000peopleand injured more than 16,000, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Our response

As the country enters long-term recovery, we’re continuing to support vulnerable and affected populations.

Through a three-month project with a local partner, we’ll be helping protect survivors from communicable and waterborne disease survivors by improving access clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene essentials. A second project will provide critical mental health support to these populations.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, we supported the Colombia-based Barco Hospital San Raffaele Emergency Medical Team’s temporary clinic in Caracas. Theyprovidedvital primary care services, filling gaps left after health facilities were destroyed or severely damaged.

Staffed by 35 professionals, the team provided more than 6,000 consultations over two months. They treated earthquake-related injuries, refilled essential medications, and provided lab testing, dental care and mental health support.

Over the last few months, Americares also:

• Deployed a water purification system to produce safe drinking water for the clinic and the surrounding area
• Sent emergency funding to a local partner to helppurchaseand distribute critical relief items, including medicines and supplies
• Shipped additional essential medicines and medical supplies to be used through partner mobile clinics and hospitals

Hear from survivors: Dyana and Lila's Stories

For Dyana and Lilia, the earthquakes took nearly everything.

Their homes were destroyed, leaving them exposed to heavy rain and an uncertain future. Yet amid unimaginable loss, they speak with gratitude for the people who have shown up to help.

Americares is supporting survivors in Venezuela by helping provide emergency health services by supporting an emergency response team and providing medicine, relief supplies and clean water.

Links:

• Americares Venezuela Response