Venezuela quake: Key services crippled and health workers missing

This article is published in association with United Nations.

Search and rescue operations continued in Venezuela on Tuesday as thousands of displaced survivors struggled to find shelter and humanitarians issued an alert over the spread of infectious disease.

The UN aid effort – Key Facts

• Six days after the earthquakes, UNHCR reports widespread food shortages in La Guaira, the worst-hit state, with basic services collapsed, connectivity largely cut, and rising tension over access to aid.
• A UNHCR rapid assessment across La Guaira, the Capital District, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo found about half of survivors sheltering with relatives or neighbours, while almost 40 percent are in streets, public spaces, churches, schools or improvised shelters that fall short of basic safety and hygiene standards. UNHCR also flagged unaccompanied and separated children among those surveyed.
• As of Monday, authorities had confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 injuries and 15,866 people affected or displaced.
• WHO says health services are under extreme strain: of 21 verified facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón, three are in critical condition and six are structurally damaged or only partly functional, driving overcrowding, surgical backlogs and breakdowns in biosafety and morgue services.
• WHO warned of rising outbreak risk — including measles, diphtheria, pertussis, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria — worsened by low pre-quake vaccination coverage and the loss of health workers, including those covering maternal care in La Guaira.
• A 47-metric-ton UNICEF shipment of health, water and education supplies, drawn from the EU stockpile at its Copenhagen hub, arrived Tuesday, with more aid to follow. Combined with an earlier shipment from Panama, it should support over 100,000 children and families over three months, though UNICEF estimates 680,000 children need help and is appealing for $52 million for the response.

Widespread shortages

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Six days after powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck central-northern Venezuela, “food shortages are widespread” in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, said UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

“Basic services have broken down and connectivity has been largely severed”, while community tensions are rising as access to assistance is constrained, added spokesperson Carlotta Wolf.

And in the aftermath of the massive disaster “there is panic…people want to have access to aid as soon as possible”, she continued.

Sub-standard shelters

A rapid needs assessment conducted by UNHCR at the end of last week across La Guaira, the Capital District, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo states showed that half of those surveyed were staying with neighbors or relatives after the disaster, while almost four in 10 “are living in streets and public spaces, and others in churches, schools, or improvised facilities”, Ms. Wolf said. 

“These improvised shelters do not meet the minimum protection standards… for privacy, safe spaces and basic levels of hygiene and comfort,” she insisted.

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

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

‘Chaotic service delivery’

“Health services are under extreme pressure now,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN World Health Organization (WHO), as a surge in trauma cases exceeds the capacity of health facilities. 

WHO-verified data from Saturday for 21 health facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcón indicates that three are “in critical condition”, six have structural damage or are partly functional, while the remainder “remain operational under significant strain”, Mr. Lindmeier said. 

He warned of “chaotic service delivery” and patient flows, marked by overcrowding, growing surgical backlogs… [a] breakdown in biosafety measures and severely stressed staff.” 

The WHO spokesperson also highlighted “critical gaps” in healthcare provision, including the collapse of forensic and morgue services, as well as inadequate casualty registration and tracking of missing persons.

Health risks multiply

“There’s an increased risk now of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, as well as yellow fever and other vector and waterborne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and malaria,” he warned. 

The WHO spokesperson also pointed to an “elevated health risk” for the displaced, owing to low vaccination coverage pre-earthquake, and limited access to vaccines now.

Mr. Lindmeier further explained that several healthcare workers in La Guaira remain missing, including those responsible “for the entire maternal care pathway in the area”, which has created a critical gap in obstetric care.