On 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela one after another. They have caused widespread damage, with the cities of La Guaira and Caracas particularly affected. As of 29 June, local authorities reported that at least 1,700 people had died and more than 5,000 were injured. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, even as the initial emergency trauma phase is coming to an end.
Hospitals that were overwhelmed during the first days after the earthquakes are now receiving fewer patients. It is estimated that over 1,500 buildings were damaged, with most of them being residential. This has displaced many families, who are now in need of shelter, water and sanitation services, food, and medical care.
During the first hours after the earthquakes, MSF was able to donate trauma kits to hospitals in La Guaira and Caracas. These kits filled supply gaps after hospitals had exhausted their own stocks treating the injured. The kits, including dressings, antibiotics, and analgesics [pain killers], which we continue to donate, are made to prevent rapid blood loss from traumatic injuries. So far, eight hospitals across the two cities have received donations from us, covering the needs of approximately 3,500 patients.
Now that the initial trauma phase is coming to an end, we are turning our focus to the informal displacement sites that people are staying in. We plan to provide medical care via mobile clinics, and provide mental health care.
Our colleagues report that some hospitals needed multiple donations of materials during the initial trauma phase of the emergency. People will likely need psychological support to cope with the devastation of the earthquakes, so we are looking into the mental health needs in different parks and stadiums where people are staying in Caracas.
