Supporting New Arrivals from Venezuela to Colombia

When devastating twin earthquakes struck near Caracas, Venezuela on June 24, IsraAID Colombia mobilized immediately. As a team that supports Venezuelan mixed migrants - several being Venezuelan ourselves - we have years of expertise, a deep understanding of the cultural context, and knowledge of the long-term humanitarian needs now amplified by this acute emergency. We joined IsraAID's Global Emergency Response Team deploying from HQ to respond in Venezuela's hardest-hit communities.

Karen, one of IsraAID Colombia's Mental Health & Protection Specialists deployed in Venezuela, is using her expertise to set up and oversee Child-Friendly Spaces in displacement shelters. These safe spaces offer therapeutic play, arts, singing, drama, and sports for children affected by the emergency. After a recent art session, Karen shared:

"Today Venezuela shows us its strength in the midst of pain. We have seen entire families in shelters who have lost everything; our mission is to accompany them, providing relief and hope. During our session, the children expressed their feelings through art therapy and learned deep breathing techniques to find calm when facing sadness, frustration, or pain. In the face of hardship, these children truly teach us the meaning of resilience."

Our team also includes Elsie, a Venezuela-born MHPSS specialist who normally supports Venezuelan mixed migrants with IsraAID Colombia. Karen and Elsie co-authored a children's book about a boy who lost his home in an earthquake. As he learns to cope with difficult emotions, he discovers he can help others feel better and even prepare for the next crisis. The book is already helping children in Venezuela process their experiences and identify their own strengths. 

Alongside support for children, IsraAID is offering respite sessions for first responders coping with prolonged exposure to loss, destruction, and fatigue. The sessions, for search and rescue, medics, psychologists, and other volunteers, focus on stress relief, burnout prevention, and self-care techniques they can carry with them in their ongoing work.

IsraAID is also providing access to critical water, sanitation, and hygiene services in shelters. Our team is installing emergency water filtration systems and handwashing stations, constructing latrines to improve sanitation, and distributing family hygiene kits with essential supplies like toothbrushes and soap. These are essential to help communities protect their health, avoid secondary health crises, and preserve their dignity.

As our emergency response in Venezuela enters its fourth week, IsraAID continues to meet emergency-related needs. We are also starting to build preparedness and resilience in Venezuelan communities to support themselves long-term. We will keep working together and building shared strengths long after the team eventually returns to Colombia -- and they will bring everything they have learned from this earthquake response with them, to keep delivering impactful work in the communities we serve year-round.

Thank you for your support!