Two massive back-to-back earthquakes struck several states across Venezuela, causing thousands of deaths and injuries, alongside widespread damage to infrastructure and basic services. In the days since, Doctors of the World has activated its emergency response and begun mobilizing teams on the ground.
This is not our first time in Venezuela. We have been working there since 2019 through humanitarian action and community health programs, which means our teams already know the context, the people, and the challenges they face.
Right now, we are conducting a rapid needs assessment in coordination with local organizations, affected communities, and other humanitarian actors to identify where help is needed most.
“At this moment, our priority is to support the people affected by this emergency, especially those in the most vulnerable situations,” says Elena Cáceres, Doctors of the World’s coordinator in Venezuela. “Our teams are gathering information on the ground to deploy the necessary assistance as quickly and effectively as possible.”
Our initial assessment has identified a significant gap in primary healthcare. The most urgent needs include emergency medical care, shelter, treatment of minor trauma, dispensing of prescribed medications, mental health and psychosocial support, and sexual and reproductive health services alongside the restoration of basic health and water services.
Many people have lost their homes and are living in vehicles, parks, and improvised settlements. They need continued access to medical consultations, medications, and psychosocial support close to where they are.
This earthquake compounds an existing humanitarian crisis. Before the disaster, millions of people in Venezuela already faced significant barriers to healthcare, medications, and basic services. Challenges including child malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, and preventable diseases were already straining communities. The earthquake has not created a new crisis—it has deepened one that was already there.
We are preparing to scale up our operational capacity, including deploying additional professionals and resources. We will continue working alongside affected communities, local authorities, and other humanitarian actors to ensure our response is coordinated and based on what communities actually need.
We are also calling on the international community to support response and recovery efforts—ensuring that aid reaches people quickly and efficiently.
Please donate to our Emergency Response Fund for Venezuela to provide lifesaving healthcare and essential support for the people most impacted by this disaster.