Earthquake in Venezuela: Key services paralyzed and health workers missing

UN relief efforts – Key Facts

• Six days after the earthquake, UNHCR reported widespread food shortages in La Guaira, the state worst affected by the earthquake, with basic services non-functioning, connectivity largely cut off, and tensions rising over access to aid.
• UNHCR’s rapid assessment in La Guaira, Capital District, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo found this half of the survivors took refuge in the homes of relatives or neighbors, while nearly 40 percent were on the streets, public spaces, churches, schools or temporary shelters. that do not meet basic safety and hygiene standards. UNHCR also flagged unaccompanied and separated children from surveyed children.
• As of Monday, authorities had confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 people were injured and 15,866 people were affected or displaced.
• WHO says health services are under extreme pressure: of 21 verified health facilities in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón, three are in critical condition and six are structurally damaged or only partially functionalcausing overcrowding, surgical delays and failures in biosecurity and mortuary services.
• WHO warns increased risk of outbreaks – including measles, diphtheria, pertussis, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria – were exacerbated by low vaccination coverage before the earthquake and the loss of health workers, including those handling maternal care in La Guaira.
• UNICEF’s 47 metric ton shipment of health, water and education aid, drawn from EU stockpiles at its Copenhagen hub, arrived on Tuesday, and more aid will follow.. Combined with previous shipments from Panama, the funds will help more than 100,000 children and families for three months, although UNICEF estimates 680,000 children need help and requested $52 million in aid.

Widespread shortages

Six days after consecutive devastating earthquakes hit north-central Venezuela, “food shortages were widespread” in La Guaira, the state most affected, said UNHCRUN refugee agency.

“Basic services have been cut and connectivity has been largely disrupted”, while community tensions are rising due to limited access to aid, added spokesperson Carlotta Wolf.

And after the great disaster occurred”there was panic…people wanted to get access to help as soon as possible”, he continued.

Substandard shelter

A rapid needs assessment carried out by UNHCR at the weekend in La Guaira, Capital District, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo states showed that half of those surveyed were living with neighbors or relatives after the disaster, while almost four in 10 “were living on the streets and public spaces, and others in churches, schools or existing facilities”, said Ms. Wolf.

“These temporary shelters do not meet minimum protection standards… for privacy, safe spaces and basic levels of cleanliness and comfort,” he stressed.

A UNHCR spokesperson also expressed concern about the presence of unaccompanied and separated children highlighted in the survey.

On Monday, Venezuelan authorities confirmed 1,719 fatalities, at least 5,034 people were injured and 15,866 people were affected or displaced, UNHCR said.

‘Service delivery chaotic’

“Health services are under extreme pressure at the moment,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN World Health Organization (WHO), because the spike in trauma cases exceeds the capacity of health facilities.

Data verified by WHO on Saturday for 21 health facilities in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón showed that three health facilities were “in critical condition”, six of them had structural damage or were partially functioning, while the rest were “still operating under significant pressure”, Lindmeier said.

He warned of “service delivery chaos” and patient flow, characterized by overcrowding, increasing numbers of patients having to undergo surgery… [a] failure in biosecurity measures and staff experiencing severe stress.”

The WHO spokesperson also highlighted “critical gaps” in health service provision, including the collapse of forensic and mortuary services, as well as inadequate casualty recording and tracking of missing people.

The health risks are manifold

“There is currently an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, as well as yellow fever and other infectious and water-borne diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria,” he warned.

The WHO spokesperson also cited “increased health risks” for refugees, due to low vaccination coverage before the earthquake, and limited access to vaccines now.

Lindmeier further explained that several health care workers in La Guaira are still missing, including those responsible “for the entire maternal care pathway in the region,” which has created a critical gap in obstetric services.