Two Weeks After Venezuela’s Devastating Earthquakes: Welthungerhilfe (WHH) provides €200,000 in Emergency Relief
Thousands have lost their homes and are living in tents and makeshift shelters
Bonn/Berlin/Caracas, July 8, 2026. Two weeks after the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century, the full extent of the disaster is becoming increasingly clear. According to the United Nations, 3,685 people have died so far, and about 18,000 have lost their homes. In addition, authorities report that 30,000 people are still missing.
While rescue teams continue to find survivors beneath the rubble, the focus is increasingly shifting to meeting the urgent needs of those who survived. Thousands are currently living in makeshift shelters or small tents along the roadside. Many families do not know whether their missing relatives are still alive and urgently need safe shelter, food, hygiene supplies, and psychosocial support.
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has provided €200,000 in Emergency Relief and, together with its long-standing European Alliance2015 partner organizations ACTED, Ayuda en Acción, and CESVI, is providing emergency assistance to people affected by the earthquakes. Despite the challenging conditions, the first relief supplies were distributed immediately after the earthquakes.
“The situation is devastating, and many people are in serious distress. Families with young children are left completely exposed to the elements. They urgently need safe shelter, food, baby supplies, and cooking facilities. There is a shortage of everything. Many of the survivors have lost everything and will continue to rely on assistance for months to come,” says Raúl Ortega, Base Manager of ACTED’s emergency relief operation, describing the dire humanitarian situation.
The Alliance2015 partner organizations are distributing, among other things, food packages, hygiene kits, and materials for emergency shelters in the particularly hard-hit communities of La Guaira, El Junquito, Caracas, and Guarenas.
Katja Dombrowski, WHH’s Expert for Emergency Communication, is currently accompanying emergency relief teams to the hardest-hit areas along the Caribbean coast: “Everything here is completely destroyed. Entire streets are in ruins. Many buildings have been torn open - you can look right into people’s homes. Families are now living crammed together in tents that are far too small, along roadsides or in public places. They won’t be able to return to their homes for a long time - if ever. At the same time, we’re witnessing an impressive show of solidarity: neighbors are sharing food, and volunteers are supporting families who have suddenly found themselves living on the streets. But that alone isn’t enough. The need is enormous, and thousands of families will still require assistance for months to come.”
The need is enormous, and thousands of families will still require assistance for months to come.
Katja Dombrowski Expert for Emergency Communication at WHHInterview opportunity
Katja Dombrowski, Expert for Emergency Communication at WHH, is currently available for interviews in the disaster-stricken area. She is available to share first-hand observations from the disaster area, including challenges faced by survivors and the ongoing emergency response.
Upon request, she can also arrange interviews with Efrain Guzman, Country Director of ACTED in Venezuela, as well as other English- and Spanish-speaking field coordinators from Alliance2015 partners ACTED, Ayuda en Acción, and CESVI.
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Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany; it is politically independent and non-denominational. With courage and determination, it is striving for a world without hunger. Since it was founded on December 14, 1962, 12,777 overseas projects in about 72 countries and territories have been supported with 5.42 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions, through approaches ranging from fast disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organizations.
