JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
UN agencies and partners are incorporating these risks into response planning as humanitarian operations shift from search and rescue to recovery.
A powerful twin earthquake occurred on June 24 causing severe damage in several states. More than 4,000 people were killed according to international reports, citing authorities.
Families in need
“While significant response efforts are underway, humanitarian needs remain enormous,” said Leah Poggio, IOMHead of Mission in Venezuela, speaking from Caracas.
“Many refugee families continue to face uncertainty regarding their housing situation, access to health services, and their ability to meet basic daily needs..
IOM has helped nearly 7,000 people in refugee camps and provided more than 10,000 servicesincluding temporary accommodation, health services, psychosocial support and protection assistance.
In addition, 20,000 people have received assistance from the government and UN agencies.
Move towards recovery
IOM is now scaling up its response through an approach that addresses both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term recovery priorities. After three weeks, the response increasingly shifted toward early recovery.
Lucas Guedes Hackradt, the agency’s Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinator in Venezuela, said that the international workers withdrawing from the country were mostly search and rescue teams, but humanitarian agencies remained on the ground “and continue to scale up their emergency assistance programs.”
El Niño concerns
He noted that one of the main concerns is debris management, both because of its environmental impact and the risk of severe weather conditions that could complicate the overall response.
The UN system has discussed the potential for “the development of a very strong El Niño system,” he said. On the American continent, this natural phenomenon causes extreme weather conditions such as drought or heavy rain.
The concern is that El Niño “could hit Venezuela at a time when people are already displaced” and IOM and its partners are discussing how to ensure emergency response measures remain in place if this happens.
Ongoing support is essential
Given the magnitude of need, IOM has launched a call to maintain emergency assistance, shelter, access to basic services, and early recovery efforts over the next 12 months.
“Needs arising from a disaster will not disappear because attention may shift to other thingssaid Ms. Poggio.
“Ongoing support will be essential to help families to reconnect with their communities, to rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods, and create the conditions for a safer and more sustainable future.”
