Aid organizations are warning of a looming humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, as the country's already strained healthcare system buckles under the pressure of injuries and the threat of infectious diseases following two powerful earthquakes last week.
Damaged and understaffed hospitals are overwhelmed by trauma cases, with nearly a week after the quakes, search and rescue efforts continue while a growing number of survivors face deteriorating conditions. United Nations agencies have expressed concern for the tens of thousands of displaced individuals sleeping in open areas or unsanitary temporary shelters, lacking basic necessities.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 15,800 people have been displaced in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira alone, a number expected to rise. Many are experiencing food shortages and have limited access to sanitation, increasing their vulnerability to preventable diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned that conditions are ripe for the spread of diseases such as measles, dengue, yellow fever, and malaria, particularly given the population's low vaccination rates. "The Venezuelan healthcare system, strained by decades of underinvestment and years of economic crisis is 'under extreme pressure now,'" said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.
Approximately 38 hospitals nationwide sustained damage from the earthquakes. WHO has evaluated 21 of these facilities, finding that three are non-operational, six are damaged, and the rest are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The disappearance of medical specialists, including those responsible for maternity care in La Guaira, further exacerbates the challenges in a country where millions have fled in recent years, including many healthcare professionals.
"Findings reveal chaotic service delivery and patient flow, marked by overcrowding, growing surgical backlogs... and a breakdown in biosafety measures," Lindmeier stated, also noting that the collapse of forensic and morgue services hinders accurate casualty assessment.
Venezuelan officials reported 1,719 deaths and 5,000 injuries as of Monday, with authorities urging the public to rely solely on official information. However, experts suggest the official toll is likely a significant undercount, with a large number of people still missing.
Estimates indicate that nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The UN children's agency, UNICEF, reported that 680,000 children require humanitarian assistance nationwide. With official figures on missing persons unavailable, many Venezuelans are turning to unofficial digital registries, one of which lists at least 43,220 missing individuals.