Two months after the earthquakes in Venezuela: Balance of victims and humanitarian crisis
Two months after the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck Venezuela, the official toll confirms 6,509 deaths. The figures, presented by the President of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, reflect an increase of 71 deaths compared to the previous week’s records, highlighting the magnitude of the tragedy that primarily affected the coastal state of La Guaira.
Status of hospital care and reconstruction work
The official report details a massive deployment in the health sector, with 226,696 people attended to in hospital centers, which represents a significant increase of 140,338 patients compared to the August 17th balance. Regarding infrastructure, the report highlights the following points:
- 60,785 residential properties have been inspected, detecting 11,001 structures at critical risk.
- The number of homes delivered by the State remains stagnant at 335.
- Cleanup efforts have allowed for the removal of 600,790 tons of debris in the most affected areas.
Concern over the decrease in humanitarian aid
Representatives of non-governmental organizations have warned about the reduction of international support in the affected areas. Organizations such as Olvidados and the Basque-Ecuadorian Solidarity Association have pointed out that the most urgent needs continue to be access to drinking water, hygiene kits, food, and medical supplies.
International aid has dropped considerably. The heat is suffocating and the needs for hydration and nutrition are critical. La Guaira resembles a war zone; the image is desolate.
Aurora Pretel, NGO representative
The voice of the victims
The situation in the shelters, such as the one set up in a Mormon church in La Guaira, is precarious. Many citizens who lost their homes express feeling abandoned by the authorities, waiting for concrete answers regarding the reconstruction of their homes or the assignment of new ones, while relying on the work of volunteers to access daily hot meals.
Controversy over the number of missing persons
The political debate has intensified due to the lack of official data on missing persons. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles has questioned the transparency of the Executive, pointing out that many families are still awaiting answers. These doubts are accentuated by discrepancies in the reports, recalling that the governor of La Guaira, Alejandro Terán, even mentioned unofficial figures of more than a thousand missing persons at the beginning of August.
