Venezuela earthquakes - UNHCR's Emergency Action Appeal

Two powerful earthquakes (7.1 and 7.5 magnitude) struck Venezuela on 24 June, devastating densely populated areas including Caracas and surrounding states.

At least 1,450 people are known to have died but the number is expected to rise. The situation remains critical with displacement rising and protection risks intensifying rapidly.

Families who have lost their homes are sheltering in stadiums, public buildings and open spaces, often without adequate safety, privacy or access to basic services. Protection risks are increasing, including family separation, psychological distress, risks to children, gender-based violence and loss of documentation, limiting people’s ability to access support.

UNHCR is scaling up both protection and emergency assistance, with plans to reach up to 30,000 people over the next six months. Our response is centred on life-saving protection services, including:

- Legal assistance and documentation support
- Child protection, including support for unaccompanied children
- Prevention and response to gender-based violence
- Mental health and psychosocial support

These services are essential to ensure people can access aid safely, protect their rights and begin to recover. Alongside this, UNHCR is delivering emergency shelter and core relief item, including family tents, blankets, essential household supplies and solar lighting, to stabilise conditions and reduce immediate risks for displaced families.

**Why support is needed now**

Humanitarian needs continue to evolve as assessments expand across affected areas. Flexible funding will enable UNHCR to rapidly scale protection services, shelter support and relief distributions where they are most urgently needed. Early support is critical to ensure timely assistance for vulnerable families while laying the foundations for recovery and resilience.

The current response requires £11.2 million, and timely contributions will play a vital role in helping families recover with safety and dignity.

- £4,350 could help provide 10 families whose homes have been destroyed or are unsafe with emergency tents

- £670 could provide 100 families with blankets or basic bedding, offering privacy and dignity in temporary or overcrowded shelters

- £100 could supply 50 families with jerry cans, enabling safe water collection and storage

- £25 could provide a family with a solar lamp, improving safety and communication during power outages

**UNHCR in Venezuela**

Despite ongoing challenges, UNHCR works to protect and support 2.7 million of the most vulnerable people across the country. In 2025, UNHCR was present in four locations, including San Cristóbal (Táchira), Maracaibo (Zulia), Caracas and Carúpano (Sucre), and delivered support including:
- Reached nearly 100,000 people with humanitarian assistance
- Supported 13,500 returnees with reintegration and access to basic services
- Helped thousands access documentation, legal support and other protection services
- Strengthened community resilience, benefiting over 100,000 people
- Rolled out innovative community service hubs, bringing together legal support, protection services and livelihoods assistance in a single, accessible location.