Venezuela Earthquake: Children Need Your Help
Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude have struck central Venezuela, causing widespread damage and forcing children and families from their homes.
The earthquakes struck during the evening when many people were returning home, increasing concerns that individuals may be trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Save the Children is responding and working urgently with teams and partners to assess needs and support affected children and families.
Please donate now. Time is critical. Your support can help Save the Children respond quickly and reach children and families affected by this devastating earthquake with lifesaving assistance when they need it most.
While the details of our response are currently being finalised, your support could help provide lifesaving assistance such as the examples provided above.
Save the Children is responding and working urgently to assess needs and support affected children and families.
How Save the Children Is Responding to the Venezuela Earthquake
Save the Children has teams and partners in affected areas and are coordinating efforts to deliver support quickly and effectively.
Fatima Andraca, Country Director, Save the Children in Venezuela said:
“Children are among the most vulnerable after these earthquakes. Some will have lost their homes and aftershocks are continuing, causing further terror for children and heightening the risk of further damage and casualties.
“While the extent of the destruction will take time to become clear, we know from past experience that children will need urgent support to access shelter, food, water and healthcare now. They may have been separated from their families in the chaos and could be at risk of exploitation and abuse.
“Save the Children is assessing the situation on the ground and working with our staff and local partners to understand urgent needs and support affected families as quickly as possible."
WHY DONATE TO THE CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND?
Our Children's Emergency Fund is a central pot of funding for emergencies. It gives us the flexibility to respond quickly and wherever the need is greatest.
With every year that goes by, crises become more frequent, last longer and affect more people. There are now twice as many natural disasters as there were 20 years ago.
The needs are huge, but so is our determination to reach every last child in crisis. We have the experience to limit the effects of disasters on children's lives – and our Children's Emergency Fund is the key to unlocking this expertise.
Thanks to your support, we've helped millions of children in their darkest hour.
Children can't wait.
Give now to Save the Children’s Emergency Fund to help deliver urgent, life‑saving support to children.
Venezuela Earthquake: What You Need to Know
What’s happened?
- Two massive 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes have ripped through Venezuela, west of the capital Caracas, impacting states including Carabobo, Caracas, La Guaira, Aragua, Miranda, Yaracuy and Trujillo.
- The earthquakes struck during the evening when many people were returning home, increasing concerns that individuals may be trapped beneath collapsed structures.
- Large numbers of residents are sheltering in open spaces, and the fact that roughly 80% of Venezuela’s population lives within the affected seismic zone suggests potentially wider impacts.
- Damage to infrastructure has cut off communications and power in some areas so the extent of the destruction and casualties will take time to become clear.
- High casualties and widespread damage are expected, though the full scale is still unclear as communications remain disrupted.
How have children been impacted?
- While the extent of the destruction will take time to become clear, we know from past experience that children will need urgent support to access shelter, food, water and healthcare now.
- Many children will have lost their homes, and some may have been separated from their families, and face increased risks of exploitation and abuse.
- With aftershocks continuing, many families are sheltering outside in fear, increasing distress and exposure to further risks for children.
- Older buildings and informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to collapse, increasing risks for children living in these areas.
What is Save the Children doing?
- Save the Children has teams and partners in affected areas and are coordinating efforts to deliver support quickly and effectively.
- Save the Children is responding and we have released $1.5 million from the Children’s Emergency Fund to kickstart our response.
- Our response will provide essential support, based on the priority needs. We stand ready to support with health services, child protection support, shelter, food, and essential relief items as needed.
