Venezuela earthquake: major services disrupted and health workers lost

UN Aid Efforts – Key Facts Six days after the earthquakes, UNHCR, UNHCR, reported widespread food shortages in La Guaira, the worst-hit state, with basic services collapsing, communication largely cut off, and tensions rising over access to aid. A rapid assessment by UNHCR across La Guaira, the Metropolitan Area, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo found that about half of survivors are taking refuge with relatives or neighbours, while nearly 40 percent are living on the streets, public places, churches, schools or temporary shelters. Which do not meet basic safety and hygiene standards. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also identified unaccompanied and separated children among those surveyed. As of Monday, authorities had confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 cases, and 15,866 people affected or displaced. The World Health Organization says health services are under severe pressure: of 21 verified facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcon, three are in critical condition and six are structurally damaged or only partially functioning, leading to overcrowding, a backlog of surgeries and collapses. In biosafety and mortuary services. The World Health Organization has warned of a high risk of disease outbreaks – including measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, aerophagus and malaria – exacerbated by low vaccination coverage before the earthquake and the loss of health workers, including those who were covering maternity care in La Guaira. It arrived on Tuesday, and more aid will follow. This amount, in addition to an earlier shipment from Panama, is supposed to support more than 100,000 children and families over three months, although UNICEF estimates that 680,000 children need assistance and is appealing for $52 million for the response.

Six days after successive strong earthquakes hit central-north Venezuela, “food shortages are widespread” in La Guaira, the worst-hit state, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said.

“Basic services have collapsed and communication is largely cut off,” spokeswoman Carlotta Wolf added, while community tensions are rising with access to assistance restricted.

She added that in the wake of the massive disaster, “there is panic… People want to get aid as soon as possible.”

Substandard shelters

A rapid needs assessment conducted by UNHCR last weekend in the states of La Guaira, the Metropolitan Area, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo showed that half of the people surveyed were staying with neighbors or relatives after the disaster, while nearly four in 10 were “living on the streets and in public places, and others in churches, schools or improvised facilities,” Ms. Wolf said.

She stressed that “these improvised shelters do not meet the minimum standards of protection… in terms of privacy, safe spaces, and basic levels of hygiene and comfort.”

The UNHCR spokesperson also expressed concern about the presence of unaccompanied and separated children, which was highlighted in the survey.

As of Monday, Venezuelan authorities had confirmed 1,719 people killed, at least 5,034 people injured, and 15,866 people damaged or displaced, the commission said.

“Chaotic service provision”

“Health services are now under severe pressure,” said Christian Lindmeier, spokesman for the United Nations World Health Organization, as the increase in trauma cases has outpaced the capacity of health facilities.

© UNICEF/Leonel García People affected by the earthquakes that struck La Guaira state in Venezuela are now living in tents.

Data verified by the World Health Organization on Saturday for 21 health facilities across Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcon indicate that three of them are “in critical condition,” six have structural damage or are partially functioning, while the rest are “still operating under significant pressure,” Mr. Lindmeier said.

He warned of the “chaos in service provision” and the influx of patients, which is characterized by overcrowding and an increasing backlog of surgical operations… [a] Breakdown of biosafety measures and extreme pressure on staff.

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

Health risks double

“There is now an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, diphtheria and whooping cough, as well as yellow fever and other waterborne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika, aerophagia and malaria,” he warned.

The WHO spokesperson also noted “high health risks” for displaced people, due to low vaccination coverage before the earthquake, and limited access to vaccines now.

Mr. Lindmeier further explained that many health care workers in La Guaira were still missing, including those responsible for “the entire maternity care pathway in the region,” creating a critical gap in obstetric care.

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