Venezuela Struggles to Recover After Devastating Earthquakes

In Bogota, Colombia, volunteers gather outside a community center, loading trucks with clothes and food. These supplies are destined for Venezuela, where victims of a recent earthquake await help. Manuel Reda for NPR captures the scene.

Three days following the tremors, Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez committed to rescuing as many lives as possible. The double earthquakes have been the most severe in over a century, leaving at least 1,400 dead and more than 3,200 injured. Many are missing, while thousands are now homeless, relying on public areas like squares and parks for shelter.

Despite international aid arriving, obstacles persist. Equipment shortages and an overwhelmed healthcare system delay assistance. In severely damaged regions, residents lack heavy machinery, resorting to manually clearing debris.

Colombia, hosting a significant Venezuelan expatriate community, sees a surge in donations. People flood community centers with non-perishable foods, hygiene products, and clothing. Aid organizations in Colombia and nearby nations hurry to gather essentials for affected individuals.

Volunteers, like Isabel Mendoza, contribute as they can. A Venezuelan street vendor in Colombia for five years, Mendoza offered clothing and emergency supplies. Though her family wasn’t impacted directly, her empathy extends to the broader Venezuelan populace.

Others join the effort too. Mariana Godoy, skilled in logistics, donated bottled water and sanitary items. Her relative, a doctor in Caracas, can’t return home, obliged to stay at an office due to building damage.

Gisella Serrano, a humanitarian advocate, foresees a prolonged crisis. Her organization collaborates with others to stockpile donations for air transport to Venezuela, counting on support from Colombian airlines. Delivering aid involves navigating bureaucratic hurdles, as the Venezuelan government may not welcome assistance from specific groups.

Within Venezuela, there are reports of relief efforts facing roadblocks. Some claim authorities confiscate aid, complicating the response. “This crisis will last beyond just a few days,” warns Serrano.