Two powerful earthquakes (7.1 and 7.5 magnitude) struck Venezuela on 24 June, devastating densely populated areas including Caracas and surrounding states.
At least 2,295 people have lost their lives and 11,256 have been injured, with more than 15,000 people affected, and over 12,700 displaced. Thousands of families remain without safe shelter, living in stadiums, public buildings and other temporary sites as communities struggle to recover.
The earthquakes have compounded an already fragile humanitarian situation, placing the most vulnerable at heightened risk. As displacement continues, protection concerns such as family separation, gender-based violence, loss of documentation and limited access to essential services are becoming increasingly acute.
UNHCR is scaling up both protection and emergency assistance, with plans to reach up to 30,000 people over the next six months. Our response is centred on life-saving protection services, including:
- Legal support and document replacement for affected families
- Child protection, including support for separated and unaccompanied children
- Prevention and response to gender-based violence
- Mental health and psychosocial support services
- Emergency shelter and essential relief items to help families recover safely and with dignity
- Rapid aid delivery, supported by a 20-tonne humanitarian airlift from Panama
Together, these interventions are helping the most vulnerable people stay safe, access critical support and begin rebuilding their lives. Combined with emergency shelter and relief assistance, UNHCR is working to reduce immediate risks, strengthen resilience and support communities as they move from crisis towards recovery.
**Why support is needed now**
Humanitarian needs continue to evolve as assessments expand across affected areas. Flexible funding will enable UNHCR to rapidly scale protection services, shelter support and relief distributions where they are most urgently needed. Early support is critical to ensure timely assistance for vulnerable families while laying the foundations for recovery and resilience.
The current response requires £11.2 million, and timely contributions will play a vital role in helping families recover with safety and dignity.
- £4,350 could help provide 10 families whose homes have been destroyed or are unsafe with emergency tents
- £670 could provide 100 families with blankets or basic bedding, offering privacy and dignity in temporary or overcrowded shelters
- £100 could supply 50 families with jerry cans, enabling safe water collection and storage
- £25 could provide a family with a solar lamp, improving safety and communication during power outages
**UNHCR in Venezuela**
Despite ongoing challenges, UNHCR works to protect and support 2.7 million of the most vulnerable people across the country. In 2025, UNHCR was present in four locations, including San Cristóbal (Táchira), Maracaibo (Zulia), Caracas and Carúpano (Sucre), and delivered support including:
- Reached nearly 100,000 people with humanitarian assistance
- Supported 13,500 returnees with reintegration and access to basic services
- Helped thousands access documentation, legal support and other protection services
- Strengthened community resilience, benefiting over 100,000 people
- Rolled out innovative community service hubs, bringing together legal support, protection services and livelihoods assistance in a single, accessible location.
