Emergency Response
How to help survivors of the earthquakes in Venezuela
The IRC is providing urgent humanitarian assistance in Venezuela—support our work.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is scaling up services to support survivors of the two deadly earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24th.
Severe damage across Venezuela and at least 164 deaths have already been reported, with casualties expected to rise.
These earthquakes worsen the existing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, which, combined with recent cuts to humanitarian aid, will make the response even more difficult.
Donate now to support the IRC as we deliver humanitarian assistance in Venezuela and to communities facing crises around the world.
What you need to know about the earthquakes in Venezuela
Two deadly earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck about 100 miles west of Caracas, Venezuela, on June 24th. They are the largest to strike the area in more than a century.
There have been 164 confirmed fatalities and nearly 1,000 injuries. Both figures are expected to rise as rescue crews search through the debris of collapsed buildings.
"What we are seeing is catastrophic," said Nicole Kast, IRC Venezuela Country Director.
"People have lost everything in a matter of seconds, and the need for immediate support is overwhelming. In some of the hardest-hit areas, damaged infrastructure and limited civil response capacity mean people may be trapped and unable to reach safety or be reached by those trying to help. We are working to get supplies to frontline workers as fast as possible so that lives can be saved."
Two severe earthquakes rocked Venezuela on June 24th, leaving more than 160 dead and nearly 1,000 injured. The IRC is prepared to scale up its response for survivors.
Photo: Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty Images
Earthquakes worsen Venezuela's existing humanitarian crisis
Even before these earthquakes, nearly 8 million people inside Venezuela were already in need of urgent humanitarian support. Public systems have been overstretched and many struggle to meet even their most basic needs. With national services under significant strain, essential rescue and recovery efforts may take weeks if not months.
Families have also been navigating complex economic and political developments, including an interim government following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro.
Multi-year resource constraints, coupled with road closures, power outages, and communication disruptions, are creating logistical barriers for aid delivery. In addition, Venezuela has been seriously impacted by aid cuts over the past year, limiting its capacity to respond to growing humanitarian needs.
The IRC is scaling up emergency services to reach survivors
The IRC has been working in Venezuela since 2021 and reached more than 75,000 people with vital humanitarian assistance in 2025. As the full extent of the destruction becomes clear, the IRC is scaling up its response to deliver life-saving assistance to those who need it most.
Currently, the IRC is providing humanitarian assistance across the following areas:
- Health: Primary health care for children and adolescents, alongside sexual and reproductive health services, including maternal care, contraception, STI prevention and treatment, and mental health support.
- Nutrition: Prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, prioritizing children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women, while promoting breastfeeding and community-based screening.
- Food security, WASH, and livelihoods: Food assistance, hygiene support, safe water promotion, and support for household livelihoods, including home gardens and small-scale production.
- Children's and women's protection and empowerment: Case management, safe spaces, community-based protection, and gender-based violence prevention and response services.
- Education: Safe, quality learning opportunities, including learning recovery programs and tailored support for crisis-affected children and indigenous communities.
We urge the international community to urgently scale up humanitarian funding and support to Venezuelans impacted by the ongoing crisis and widespread impact of these earthquakes.
Donate now to help reach survivors of the Venezuelan earthquakes
IRC teams are on the ground in Venezuela delivering urgent health, nutrition, WASH, protection, education, food security, and livelihood services. Your donation supports the IRC as we scale up humanitarian services in Venezuela.
More about the IRC
The International Rescue Committee has over 90 years of experience helping people affected by crisis in more than 40 countries to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We also help refugees and displaced people resettle and integrate into new communities in the U.S. and across Europe.
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