• The response is expected to reach more than 26,000 people.

  • Funded by the European Union with €1 million, the intervention will run from July to December 2026.

  • Health, protection, and psychosocial support services will be implemented in Miranda, La Guaira, and Caracas.

  • The IRC will launch InfoPalante to provide verified information, personalized guidance, and access to safe services.

Caracas, Venezuela, July 31, 2026 —  One month after the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, over 5,500 people have been killed and 16,740 injured. 

As soon as the earthquakes hit, the European Union partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to expand essential health and protection services for over 26,000 people affected by the crisis, through a €1 million grant (July–December) from the EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). 

"The earthquakes have devastated entire communities, leaving many families without access to healthcare, protection, and other essential services needed to rebuild their lives. The European Union's vital support, together with the unwavering commitment of our partners on the ground, allows us to rapidly scale up lifesaving services and reach those at greatest risk. This intervention will enable us to stand with the people of Venezuela in the face of unimaginable loss and help communities move toward a safe, dignified, and hopeful recovery," said Nicole Kast, IRC Country Director for Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

Before the earthquakes, close to eight million people already required humanitarian assistance. Just four weeks later, that number has grown by 1.4 million. EU Humanitarian Aid funding will bolster IRC’s initial emergency response in the hardest-hit areas of La Guaira, Caracas, and Miranda. The IRC and its partners began launching services immediately after the earthquakes hit, delivering essential supplies, supporting frontline workers and providing first aid and primary health care to between 300 and 400 people every day.

In partnership with the Venezuelan Association of Christian-Oriented Health Services (AVESSOC) and the PALUZ Foundation, the IRC will expand access to primary care, and sexual and reproductive health services in affected communities.

In partnership with the Foundation for Children Deserving Protection (FUNDALA), the IRC will provide psychosocial support and case management for at-risk populations, including survivors of gender-based violence, and distribute dignity kits.

To increase access to vital information, the IRC will launch InfoPalante in Venezuela. Through this digital channel, affected people will be able to access verified information, identify health and protection services and referral pathways and receive personalized, real-time guidance. InfoPalante is part of Signpost, a global initiative co-launched by the IRC and Mercy Corps operating around the world that provides reliable and accessible information to people affected by humanitarian emergencies. InfoPalante has been active in Colombia since 2020 and in Ecuador since 2022.