UN warns Venezuela quakes will worsen humanitarian crisis
The UN says hundreds of staff are supporting Venezuela’s quake response, with recovery expected to take months.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
The United Nations is expanding its response in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes caused heavy casualties and damage, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Dujarric told Al Jazeera that the disaster is expected to worsen what the UN already describes as a severe humanitarian crisis.
Al Jazeera reported that at least 188 people have been killed and 1,500 injured after the earthquakes struck the South American country. Venezuela has declared a state of emergency over the quakes, Al Jazeera reported.
Dujarric said hundreds of UN staff are now supporting the response. He told Al Jazeera that recovery work is expected to continue for months, underscoring the scale of the damage and the strain on relief efforts.
UN expands response
The UN warning puts the earthquakes in the context of Venezuela’s existing humanitarian needs. Dujarric said the quakes will deepen an already severe crisis, according to Al Jazeera, as aid teams work to support emergency operations after the twin shocks.
Al Jazeera reported that the UN is scaling up its response, though no further details were given on specific aid deliveries, locations or funding. Dujarric’s comments point to a prolonged recovery phase rather than a short emergency operation.
The United States Geological Survey said mass casualties were likely and damage was extensive, according to Al Jazeera. That assessment came as the reported death and injury tolls already showed a major disaster, with authorities moving to emergency measures.
Emergency declared
Al Jazeera reported that Venezuela declared a state of emergency following the earthquakes. The declaration signals that the government is treating the disaster as a national emergency, though Al Jazeera did not provide further details on the measures attached to it.
The reported toll of at least 188 dead and 1,500 injured could place additional pressure on medical services, rescue operations and shelters. The UN’s assessment, as relayed by Dujarric, is that the earthquakes will add to humanitarian needs that were already severe before the disaster.
Recovery efforts are expected to take months, Dujarric told Al Jazeera. With hundreds of UN personnel involved and damage described by the USGS as extensive, the response is likely to remain focused on emergency relief before shifting to longer-term recovery.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.