More than 1700 people have been killed and 5,000 injured after two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit Venezuela at around 6pm local time on 24 June. The two quakes came less than a minute apart, and the second was the strongest to hit the country since 1900.
In the most severely affected areas there are major disruptions to transport, electricity, water and gas supplies, and communications remain difficult.
Ali Wood, Tearfund’s Disaster Risk Management Lead commented:
‘Our teams have been receiving voice messages and updates from Tearfund’s church partners in Venezuela. They are telling us about people’s widespread emotional distress, psychological trauma, massive medical needs and huge numbers of people being displaced.
‘Many people are terrified of going back to their homes with so many buildings collapsing and multiple aftershocks. Pastors are providing emotional support, opening up their church buildings for shelter and are creating a plan for further response. These are very challenging conditions but they will not stop reaching out to those in need of their help.’
‘This disaster compounds existing challenges which were already severely impacting vulnerable groups. Basic services—including healthcare, water, energy, and education—were already limited, making it incredibly difficult for the country to respond to this unprecedented crisis.’
Tearfund’s church partners in Venezuela are already supporting the practical and emotional needs in areas worse affected by the earthquakes, including La Guaira, Caracas, and surrounding regions. They are offering emergency food and shelter to the countless people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and trauma support for survivors.
Communications and Promotion Director of Tearfund church partner, the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela , Issac Delgado said:
‘We are looking at a critical situation, with thousands of families sleeping in the street, still feeling the intense aftershocks from the earthquakes. In the face of this tragedy our teams are on the ground directly assisting the victims, securing our churches as refuges of hope, and deploying emergency aid where it is needed most. We urgently request your prayers and your help, for wisdom and strength for first responders and volunteers working day and night, and peace in the hearts of everyone sleeping on the streets tonight. Thank you for standing with Venezuela.'
To donate to Tearfund's Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, go to www.tearfund.org
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For further information or interview requests call Tearfund’s Media Team on +44 (0)7929 339 813 or email [email protected]
Notes to editors:
Tearfund works through church partners in Venezuela, including Evangelical Council of Venezuela and The National Baptist Convention of Venezuela.
Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice. We believe an end to extreme poverty is possible. Tearfund is also a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
