How to Help Those Impacted by the Earthquakes in Venezuela (Updated)

Venezuela is once again in a state of national emergency, and this time not for political reasons. The South American country was struck on Wednesday night (June 24) by twin earthquakes that caused the collapse of multiple buildings, primarily in the coastal region of La Guaira, north of Caracas, as well as in the capital city.

The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, and were felt across the region, according to the Associated Press. By noon Saturday (June 26), the news agency reported at least 920 fatal victims and more than 51,000 missing persons.

On social media, videos shared by hundreds of users showed the magnitude of the tragedy, with people fleeing buildings and shopping centers in terror during the quake and rescue teams later working to extract survivors and victims from the rubble. Others were desperately pleading for help in finding family members.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first of the two earthquakes, with a magnitude of 7.2, occurred west of Morón, on the Caribbean coast, about 105 miles west of Caracas, at a depth of about 14 miles, AP informed. Just a minute later, the USGS reported a second quake, this one with a magnitude of 7.5, a depth of about 6 miles and an epicenter located 10 miles southwest of Morón.

Several nations have offered to send aid to Venezuela, including the United States, which earlier this year captured former president Nicolás Maduro in a surprise military operation.

Meanwhile, a growing number of organizations, businesses and even musicians are taking steps to raise funds and provide assistance to those affected. Below is a list of ways you can help, in alphabetical order.

Aid for Life, founded in 2018 in response to the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela at the time, has created a relief fund for the earthquake in the South American country.

“Our team is on the ground in Venezuela assessing the immediate needs of affected communities in real time. Currently, our priority areas are food, clean water, and medical supplies,” says the initiative’s website. “Donations go directly to our team inside Venezuela, who coordinates with local organizations already doing the work, including students at Universidad Central de Venezuela conducting rescues, and hospitals and clinics in urgent need of medical supplies. These organizations tell us what they need, our team procures it, and it gets distributed directly to the people who need it.” 

Americares is a global health and disaster relief organization that helps people and communities around the world access health in times of disaster and every day. In response to the Venezuela earthquakes, it is “mobilizing to deliver emergency medical aid and relief supplies,” according to a press release.

“Americares is preparing to deliver urgently needed aid, including essential medicines, orthopedic supplies, antibiotics, water purification supplies and hygiene kits to the hardest hit areas,” it says. “Americares is assessing the most urgent needs and coordinating its response with the Pan American Health Organization, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other disaster response organizations.”

Brigada de Rescate Topos Tlaltelolco A.C. — founded after the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake and commonly known as Los Topos — is a renowned volunteer organization specializing in search and rescue in disaster zones.

They’ve already sent an “advanced operational team” to Venezuela to assist following the double earthquake. At the same time, they are receiving supplies for the affected population, as well as equipment, tools and resources for the rescuers’ efforts.

CADENA is an international humanitarian organization that responds to emergencies, disasters and crises. “We work hand in hand with affected communities, focusing on prevention, sustainable development and education,” says its official website.

“Following the severe earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, CADENA has already mobilized to provide direct aid to those who need it most,” the organization wrote in an Instagram post, requesting contributions to support its relief efforts in the South American country.

Caritas, the global confederation of Catholic organizations for humanitarian aid, development and social services operating in over 200 countries, including Venezuela, has mobilized to provide relief to those affected by the earthquakes.

“Caritas Venezuela is already on the ground, bringing relief to the victims, working tirelessly to ease suffering, thanks to the support of donors like you and the Caritas Confederation, which is mobilizing resources for a response plan,” says its fundraising page. “Established in 1997 and rooted in local communities, Caritas Venezuela provides food, health care, safe water, hygiene kits and psychosocial support to those in need.”

FUNDANA (Spanish acronym for Friends of the Abandoned Child Foundation) is a non-profit organization based in Caracas that for the last 35 years has been dedicated to child protection, supporting vulnerable families and assisting women who are victims of violence.

In addition to providing temporary shelter to children in need of immediate protection, they have mobilized in response to the earthquakes to offer remote and free psychological support to affected families, as well as to collect supplies in both Caracas and Miami.

The Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is mobilizing in response to the developing situation in Venezuela in partnership with the We Love Foundation (formerly known as I Love Venezuela).

“Our reconnaissance and emergency response team is deploying immediately and is expected to be on the ground by Friday to assess needs, coordinate with local partners, and begin response operations,” it says on its website. “Please keep the people of Venezuela in your thoughts during this challenging time.” 

GlobalGiving, an NGO that supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors and companies, has set up a Venezuela Earthquake Relief Fund.

The effort will “provide local organizations with flexible, rapid funding to deliver emergency medical care, search and rescue support, temporary shelter, food, clean water, hygiene supplies, and other essential services,” according to its website. “It will also help communities begin rebuilding and recovering as they face the long-term impacts of this disaster.”

To donate to this initiative, click here.

Hogar Bambi Venezuela is a non-profit civil association dedicated to the comprehensive care of children and young people from 0 to 18 years old who have been separated from their family environment due to abandonment, mistreatment, sexual abuse, homelessness, extreme poverty, parents’ legal issues, parental alcoholism or drug abuse, and other reasons.

“In response to the situation caused by the recent earthquake, at Hogar Bambi we are preparing to provide shelter and comprehensive care to the children and adolescents referred by the Protection Council, as well as to those who already reside in our homes,” the organization wrote on its Instagram account, inviting people to donate money or necessary supplies.

The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) said on Thursday (June 25) in a press release that the Venezuelan Red Cross is operational and responding, with its “nationwide network of hospitals and polyclinics active […] although it has reported critical damage to its own National Headquarters.”

“The National Society has activated rescue teams to support evacuation and search efforts and deployed four assessment teams overnight to carry out rapid evaluations in the worst-affected areas, while mobilizing prepositioned relief supplies,” the organization said, noting that “while assessments continue, the most urgent anticipated needs are search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency health care, including trauma care and psychosocial support.”

Oxfam, a global organization working to combat inequality, end poverty and eradicate injustice, “is mobilizing its emergency mechanisms and is fully committed to supporting a locally-led, people-centered response,” its website says.

“Emergency aid needed in Venezuela after devastating earthquakes,” it adds. “Help power our locally-led, people-centered, humanitarian response.”

Project HOPE, a global health and humanitarian organization working in disaster zones, conflict areas and marginalized communities, is already assisting those affected by the twin earthquakes in Venezuela.