Nearly three weeks after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, the health response has entered an early recovery phase focused on restoring essential healthcare services, rebuilding damaged facilities, and preventing secondary public health emergencies. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is working with national authorities and humanitarian partners to support recovery efforts and strengthen the country’s health system.
The earthquakes, which occurred on 24 June 2026, caused widespread destruction, resulting in 4,333 deaths, 16,740 injuries, the displacement of 17,907 people, and damage to 38 health facilities. While emergency medical teams provided critical support immediately after the disaster, priorities are now shifting toward long-term recovery, including rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure and maintaining access to essential services.
PAHO continues to support Venezuela’s Ministry of Health through technical assistance and coordination of the Health Cluster, which brings together 110 organizations involved in the response. Seven specialists from PAHO and the World Health Organization’s emergency response teams are assisting with emergency coordination, disease surveillance, logistics, health facility assessments, information management, and risk communication.
Through the Ministry of Health-led Coordination Cell, supported by PAHO, 17 international Emergency Medical Teams have been deployed across affected areas. These teams have treated 8,489 people and carried out 148 surgeries. As demand for trauma care decreases, emergency teams are increasingly supporting primary healthcare, rehabilitation services, and community-based care to help restore continuity of treatment.
Public health priorities during the recovery phase include disease surveillance, vaccination, water and sanitation support, and ensuring continued treatment for vulnerable groups. Displacement and overcrowded temporary shelters have increased the risk of diarrheal illnesses, respiratory infections, vector-borne diseases, and vaccine-preventable diseases, while also creating additional challenges related to nutrition, maternal health, and mental health.
To strengthen early detection of outbreaks, authorities have identified 18 priority diseases and public health events requiring immediate notification. PAHO teams have conducted health assessments in temporary shelters, combining disease monitoring with vaccination activities, infection prevention measures, water and sanitation support, and identification of additional healthcare needs.
Vaccination efforts remain a key part of the recovery strategy, with more than 24,406 vaccine doses administered across affected areas. PAHO is also supporting improvements in immunization planning, cold chain management, and vaccination strategies to maintain coverage among displaced communities.
Access to medicines and medical supplies is another priority. PAHO has delivered six metric tons of emergency medical supplies, including trauma kits, emergency surgery equipment, chronic disease medicines, and essential healthcare supplies. An additional 27.5 metric tons of humanitarian assistance is being deployed, including emergency health kits expected to support primary healthcare needs for approximately 200,000 people over three months.
Mental health support is also being integrated into recovery efforts, with PAHO assisting national authorities in providing psychological first aid, training healthcare workers, and strengthening services for communities affected by the disaster.
As Venezuela moves from emergency response toward recovery, PAHO continues to work with the Ministry of Health and partners to restore healthcare services, strengthen health system resilience, and ensure vulnerable populations—including children, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions—continue receiving essential care.
