Venezuela earthquake deaths rise as health agencies warn of disease risk
Authorities put the toll from Venezuela’s June 24 earthquakes at 3,889, while PAHO warned that crowded shelters and poor sanitation could fuel illness.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Venezuelan authorities said the death toll from last month’s twin earthquakes has climbed to 3,889, as health officials warned that the disaster could lead to outbreaks of disease among displaced people. The warning centers on shelters and damaged services along the country’s northern coast, where the Pan American Health Organization said access to clean water and routine care is limited.
Lawmaker Jorge Rodrigues said Thursday that at least 16,740 people were injured and 17,907 displaced, according to figures reported by AFP and Reuters. The earthquakes struck on June 24, and the northern coastal area was the hardest hit, PAHO said.
Photographs from Catia La Mar showed residents displaced by the quakes arranging belongings in an improvised camp on a baseball field on June 30, according to AFP. PAHO said such conditions have increased concern about illnesses spreading among people who lost access to homes, sanitation and regular medical support.
Health services under pressure
PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said the next phase of the emergency may pose risks beyond the injuries caused directly by the earthquakes. He said disrupted health services, crowding, poor water and sanitation, and reduced access to vaccination and routine healthcare could become major threats in the coming weeks.
The agency said it is working with Venezuela’s health ministry to improve access to vaccines and to track possible outbreaks of respiratory and digestive illnesses. PAHO said the monitoring is focused especially on shelters established for people whose homes were destroyed or made unsafe.
The warning adds a public health challenge to an emergency already marked by a rising toll. Venezuelan authorities have continued to update casualty and displacement figures as recovery efforts proceed in affected areas.
UN seeks aid for urgent needs
The United Nations has launched an appeal for about $300 million to support 1.3 million people in Venezuela who are in urgent need of assistance. The appeal comes as agencies seek to expand relief for people affected by the earthquakes and prevent the disaster from worsening into a broader health crisis.
PAHO also called for the immediate release of the remaining $15 million in requested emergency funding. The agency said the money is needed to help repair damaged hospitals and keep basic sanitation functioning in camps for displaced people.
PAHO said those steps are aimed at preventing a health emergency among people already affected by the quakes. The agency’s concerns focus on conditions that can allow respiratory or digestive diseases to spread when large numbers of people live in temporary shelters without reliable water, sanitation or routine medical care.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.