Caracas, Venezuela – More than two weeks after Venezuela was rocked by two devastating earthquakes, international support is beginning to dwindle.
Rescue teams and humanitarian workers from around the world mobilized to save lives in Venezuela following the disaster, but many returned home as chances of finding survivors dwindled. Media interest also disappeared.
But international organizations and local aid workers say the crisis is far from over and foreign help is needed more than ever.
Since the earthquake, earthquake survivors have received support through the efforts of a coalition of humanitarian organizations and ordinary citizens. As seen around Caracas and La Guaira, they are collecting, transporting and distributing essential medical supplies, water and food.
But with no survivors found after just a few days and many international rescue workers already leaving, the humanitarian response to the crisis is turning into a long-term challenge.
The Pan American Health Organization has warned that low rates of prior vaccination against diseases such as tetanus, yellow fever and measles will increase the risk of disease spread after a disaster.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned that Venezuela’s health facilities are ill-equipped to deal with the crisis, reporting that they are up to 37% short of essential medicines due to years of underinvestment.
According to official government statistics, infectious diseases can easily spread in the harsh conditions of the refugee camps, which are home to about 20,000 people displaced by the earthquake.
“These people are sleeping in dangerous conditions on the streets, and that’s where the disease spreads,” said Jan Costa, a psychologist who cares for victims at a camp in downtown Caracas.
Many NGOs are focusing their efforts on protecting survivors from new health risks.
“Our response to the post-earthquake emergency is focused on ensuring access to primary health care, water, sanitation and hygiene products,” said Everardo Esquivel, Deputy Director of Communications at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Latin America Report.
The IRC has a mobile medical unit that travels between Caracas and La Guaira to provide support to local communities.
housing the homeless
Beyond medical concerns, there is no clear solution to accommodate the 17,907 people who cannot return home after the disaster.
“We are waiting to see where they take us, where they send us,” said Vladimir Ramirez, who lost his home in La Guaira and now lives in a camp in Caracas.
The government has announced a $200 million fund to rebuild homes lost in the disaster, but many people have lost all hope that the state will provide them with safe accommodation.
“The buildings they built were not good because they stole money and materials and tried to make it as cheap as possible,” Ramirez said. “Everything collapsed. Even our house collapsed. It was made of cardboard.”
Even if the government secures $200 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the earthquake caused $37 billion worth of damage to infrastructure, according to the United Nations.
To make matters worse, the damage was done to a country already suffering from a long-term economic crisis.
“Public services, such as health, education or other services, were already overloaded before and were further disrupted after this earthquake,” said IRC’s Esquivel. “People who were already struggling to make ends meet and access these basic services are now being impacted even more.”
He said Venezuela’s crisis will not end anytime soon and that the international community must participate in Venezuela’s long-term recovery.
“It is important that the world and the international community continue to provide support and funding for Venezuela’s long-term recovery and long-term collaboration with organizations to serve the Venezuelan people going forward,” Esquivel said.
But he also noted that even before the earthquake, humanitarian efforts were already struggling to meet their goals. Last year, the UN’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) covered only 16% of its funding requirements. This year, Venezuela’s HRP required $632 million in funding to meet its goals, a figure that rose to $932 million after the earthquake.
As international organizations desperately try to raise funds for Venezuela, some of those affected by the earthquake say the only long-term solution is employment rather than aid.
“We want help to get a job. We don’t want them to give us a bed, a mattress or a TV. We want them to give us a job so we can work hard and buy our own,” said Lina Romero, a woman from Caracas who cannot return home because of the damage.
But Ramirez’s message to the international community from Venezuela is simple: “We need your help.”
Featured image caption: A building severely damaged by the La Guaira earthquake.
Featured image credit: Alfie Pannell
