New York: Nearly 680,000 children are among an estimated 1.8 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, UNICEF said on Saturday as it stepped up emergency relief operations across the country.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within a minute of each other, making them the most significant seismic event to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Preliminary satellite assessments indicate that nearly one-third of the buildings surveyed so far in Catia La Mar, in La Guaira state, have sustained damage.
Three days into the emergency response, the scale of destruction continues to emerge, according to UNICEF.
“Three days into the response, the scale of need is becoming clearer,” said Manuel Rodriguez Pumarol, UNICEF Representative in Venezuela.
“Hospitals are operating beyond capacity, thousands of children don’t have reliable access to safe water, and many schools have been damaged. UNICEF is working with the Government of Venezuela and partners to scale up support for children and families, and continued funding will be critical to sustaining that response in the weeks ahead,” he added.
According to UNICEF, hospitals in La Guaira, Caracas, Carabobo, Aragua and Falcón states have suffered severe structural damage, disrupting healthcare services for children and pregnant women while pushing many medical facilities beyond capacity.
The education sector has also been severely affected. Preliminary assessments indicate that 432 schools in Venezuela’s Capital District—more than one-third of all schools in the district—have been damaged. Officials expect the number to rise as assessments continue in other affected states. Several undamaged schools are currently being used as temporary shelters for displaced families.
Working alongside the Government of Venezuela, the United Nations system and humanitarian partners, UNICEF has expanded its emergency operations by deploying additional personnel and mobilising relief supplies. The agency aims to provide health, nutrition, water, sanitation, child protection and education support to around 650,000 people, including 234,000 children.
A major milestone in the relief effort came on June 27 when UNICEF’s first emergency aid flight arrived in Valencia carrying 20 metric tonnes of medical supplies along with water, sanitation and hygiene materials from its regional warehouse in Panama. A second consignment from UNICEF’s global supply hub in Copenhagen is expected to arrive in the coming days. Together, the two shipments are expected to benefit more than 100,000 people.
UNICEF estimates that US$52 million is needed to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which totals US$137.6 million.
The UN agency said it has already mobilised approximately US$3.5 million from its internal emergency funds to support the rapid deployment of relief supplies and staff. It has appealed to international donors for additional flexible funding to sustain and expand life-saving assistance for children and families affected by the disaster.
According to latest reports, the toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, while more than 68,900 persons were missing as of Saturday.
