‘Help is coming’: UN relief chief briefs on Venezuela quake recovery
‘Help is coming’: UN relief chief briefs on Venezuela quake recovery
Help is coming – Venezuela’s widespread solidarity now needs to be converted into tangible, actionable aid to aid recovery from the catastrophic double earthquakes that struck last month, stated UN relief chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday. The crisis has underscored the urgency of transforming public support into concrete assistance.
Global Response Amidst Ongoing Efforts
Speaking in a virtual briefing from Caracas, Mr. Fletcher emphasized the emotional toll on affected communities. “People are in shock and despair; formal meetings are not enough,” he said, alongside representatives from the UN, Brazil, Türkiye, the United States, Venezuela, and the European Commission.
“Today’s meeting is our response to that. There can only be one answer to that question.”
According to the UN relief agency, OCHA, the quakes have claimed over 3,500 lives and left at least 16,740 injured. Additionally, 6,462 individuals have been rescued. Despite the progress, the UN highlights that humanitarian demands remain high, with many communities still requiring immediate relief as search operations conclude.
Mr. Fletcher outlined current efforts, highlighting 200 collaborating entities from across the UN system and member states. Emergency supplies, including essential food, shelter, and medical resources, have already begun arriving. However, he stressed that coordinated, long-term support is crucial to address the crisis effectively.
“Those mothers asked me last night ‘is help coming?’” the UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said.
During a visit to La Guaira, a severely impacted area, Mr. Fletcher witnessed the determination of families returning daily to search for missing loved ones. The sound of bulldozers and rescuers navigating rubble underscored the ongoing challenges. He noted that international teams from Israel to Mexico had swiftly mobilized to assist in the initial phase of the disaster.
Current initiatives include: – Shelter and protection services from UN agencies such as IOM and UNHCR – Essential meals provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners like World Central Kitchen – Rubble clearance and long-term needs assessments by the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
He urged a unified strategy to tackle both immediate and future priorities, including food distribution, housing, and infrastructure rebuilding. Mr. Fletcher also pointed out that existing challenges, such as the need for humanitarian aid for nearly eight million Venezuelans, have intensified the demands on recovery efforts.
Thanking donors, he requested three key actions: 1. Increase funding to reach 1.3 million people with $296 million over the next six months 2. Prioritize investments in critical services like food, education, and healthcare based on the national post-disaster assessment 3. Maintain donor engagement, ease financial restrictions, and release frozen assets to support sustained efforts.
“We have to show that we will answer the question from those mothers: help is coming,” he said. “Let’s demonstrate that global solidarity is as strong as ever and that we will stay the course.”