Emergency appeal aims to restore healthcare, prevent disease outbreaks and provide lifesaving medical support after twin quakes kill nearly 2,000 people

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a US$24 million emergency appeal to strengthen health services and support early recovery efforts following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

The funding will be used over the next six months to restore damaged healthcare services, provide emergency medical care, prevent disease outbreaks, ensure uninterrupted access to medicines and vaccines, and rebuild the health system in the country's worst-affected areas.

The appeal is expected to benefit around 700,000 people living in the municipalities hardest hit by the disaster while also strengthening referral hospitals and healthcare facilities serving millions whose access to medical care has been disrupted.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, said the emergency has now moved beyond search-and-rescue operations to addressing the growing health crisis.

"While search and rescue efforts continue, the health emergency is entering a new phase. Thousands of injured people require ongoing care, hospitals remain under enormous pressure, and the risk of disease outbreaks is increasing. This appeal will help save lives today while supporting the recovery of essential health services for the months ahead," he said.

Hospitals Overwhelmed After Powerful Earthquakes

On June 24, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck north-central Venezuela, triggering one of the country's worst natural disasters in decades.

According to official figures released on June 29, the disaster has claimed more than 1,943 lives, while over 10,500 people have been injured.

The earthquakes severely damaged hospitals and critical infrastructure, including electricity, water supply, transportation and telecommunications, in densely populated urban areas that were already facing humanitarian challenges.

Hospitals are continuing to operate beyond their capacity as they treat thousands of trauma patients. At the same time, shortages of medicines, surgical supplies, laboratory reagents and critical medical equipment are threatening the continuity of lifesaving healthcare services.

Risk of Disease Outbreaks Growing

Health experts have warned that the public health emergency could worsen in the coming weeks.

Damage to healthcare facilities, overcrowded shelters, displacement of communities, disruption of vaccination programmes, and limited access to clean water and sanitation have significantly increased the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable and other infectious diseases.

The disaster has also taken a heavy psychological toll on survivors as well as healthcare workers responding to the crisis.

PAHO Mobilises Emergency Response

Since the earthquakes, PAHO has been working closely with Venezuela's Ministry of Health, Civil Protection authorities, United Nations agencies and Health Cluster partners to coordinate emergency response efforts.

The organisation has activated its Incident Management System and Regional Response Team, deployed emergency health specialists, assessed damaged hospitals and coordinated the deployment of international Emergency Medical Teams.

PAHO has also dispatched trauma kits, medicines and emergency medical equipment from its Strategic Reserve in Panama while facilitating the urgent procurement of additional vaccines, medicines, laboratory supplies and other essential health commodities.

Six Priority Areas for Recovery

The emergency funding will focus on six major priorities over the next six months:

Providing emergency trauma, surgical and critical care.

Restoring essential healthcare services and damaged health facilities.

Procuring and distributing medicines, vaccines, laboratory supplies and medical equipment.

Preventing disease outbreaks through surveillance, vaccination, infection control, water and sanitation measures, and vector control.

Expanding mental health and psychosocial support for affected communities.

Strengthening health sector coordination, emergency management and early recovery efforts.

Calling for international support, Dr. Barbosa said investing in health now is essential to prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis.

"Investing in health now will not only help save lives but also prevent secondary public health emergencies that could prolong the humanitarian impact of this disaster. We call on governments, development partners, financial institutions, philanthropic organisations and the private sector to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela," he said.