Food, medicine and water are in short supply. Venezuela needs help after the earthquake—donate to the SOS Venezuela appeal

Responding through local leadership

We have worked in Venezuela for more than 12 years through a network of local partner organisations. Building on these long-term relationships, we are activating our Local Responders Fund — a rapid funding mechanism that provides flexible support directly to local organisations, volunteer networks, and community groups.

These local responders are often the first to reach affected communities after disasters, particularly in areas that remain difficult to access.

We have already approved an initial allocation of USD 55,000 for seven local organisations working in the earthquake-affected areas. The funding supports activities such as:

• emergency food assistance,
• safe drinking water,
• emergency shelter,
• medicines and medical supplies,
• psychosocial support,
• equipment for volunteer rescue teams,
• and logistics enabling humanitarian coordination

We also deployed a team to Venezuela, and according to its reports from the ground, the country is now facing a wider humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the earthquake.

In addition to the difficulties involved in rescuing people from destroyed buildings, healthcare services are collapsing, aid coordination remains inadequate, and there is a shortage of safe drinking water. People who survived the earthquake are therefore facing further serious risks.

Immediately after the earthquake, we released CZK 1 million from the People in Need Friends Club and launched the public SOS Venezuela appeal. The Slovak organisation People in Peril also contributed CZK 500,000.

Two powerful earthquakes within a minute

Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes within less than a minute. The quakes struck a country whose people have been living for many years in the midst of a deep economic, humanitarian and political crisis, which significantly hampers rescue efforts and subsequent recovery.

The tremors were followed by more than 130 aftershocks, with the coastal areas around the state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, being the worst affected. The earthquakes damaged hundreds of buildings, disrupted electricity, water and telecommunications supplies, and significantly hampered transport in some areas.

Launching the SOS Venezuela appeal

We have therefore launched the SOS Venezuela appeal. We have released the allocation of USD 55,000 from the funds of Club of Friends funs that we can begin providing aid immediately.

Working together through Alliance2015

At the same time, People in Need is coordinating its response with fellow Alliance2015 members — ACTED, CESVI and Ayuda en Acción.

By sharing assessments, coordinating interventions and building on each organisation's comparative strengths, the partnership helps avoid duplication, makes more efficient use of resources and ensures assistance reaches affected communities more quickly.

“After the initial uncertainty, the reality on the ground has clearly shown that the scale of the disaster is enormous. The fate of thousands of people remains unknown, and unofficial registries continue to list thousands as missing. However, the exact number cannot be independently verified, and some are believed to remain trapped beneath the rubble. The disaster has hit the population of an economically devastated country with full force. The government lacks both the resources and the capacity to provide effective assistance, leaving people largely dependent on external support,” says Marek Štys, Head of Humanitarian Aid at People in Need.

First-hand information from the ground

We are monitoring the situation in the worst-affected areas of La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda. We have visited affected communities, sites hosting displaced families and healthcare facilities, and are assessing local needs. Our findings show that assistance remains concentrated mainly in accessible urban areas, while many rural and coastal communities continue to receive no support.

Based on information from the ground, we are helping to distribute assistance, including emergency food, safe drinking water and hygiene supplies, healthcare and medicines, emergency shelter and psychosocial support.

“People in Venezuela have been living in difficult conditions for a long time, which is why we have been working there continuously for twelve years. We know the local environment and the communities’ needs very well. Thanks to our experience and flexibility, we are able to respond quickly to the situation and direct aid where it will have the greatest impact,” adds Karolína Kvačková from the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy at People in Need.

Please support the SOS Venezuela appeal

You can support our work on the ground through the SOS Venezuela appeal.

Account number: 72377237/0300

Thank you for helping us in this effort.