The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has delivered 27 tonnes of medicines, medical supplies, and specialised equipment to Venezuela to strengthen the country’s healthcare response following the devastating 24 June 2026 earthquake. The shipment was coordinated with Venezuela’s Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MPPH) and will be distributed to hospitals treating those affected by the disaster.
According to official figures from the Ministry of Health, nearly three weeks after the earthquake, 16,740 people have been injured, while 20,936 people are currently living in 107 temporary shelters. Healthcare facilities continue to experience high demand for emergency and surgical services as recovery efforts continue.
The medical supplies, which arrived in Venezuela on 13 July, include emergency health kits capable of meeting the essential healthcare needs of up to 20,000 people for three months. The shipment also contains surgical kits sufficient to support approximately 1,000 surgical procedures, helping hospitals provide timely treatment for patients with traumatic injuries and other serious medical conditions.
Additional supplies include essential medicines, anaesthesia equipment, trauma surgery instruments, orthopaedic and vascular surgery equipment, external fracture fixation devices, and specialised medical tools required for amputations, thoracic and abdominal trauma, and other complex surgical procedures.
The humanitarian shipment was dispatched from the World Health Organization’s Humanitarian Logistics Hub in Dubai as part of the ongoing emergency response. Funding for the operation was provided through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the European Union’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
Since the earthquake struck, PAHO/WHO has been working closely with Venezuelan health authorities by providing technical expertise and operational support across several priority areas, including emergency health coordination, epidemiological surveillance, trauma care, mental health and psychosocial services, health logistics, and the continuity of essential healthcare services.
The delivery of 27 tonnes of medical supplies reinforces ongoing efforts to strengthen Venezuela’s healthcare system during the emergency. As response operations continue, PAHO/WHO remains committed to supporting national authorities in ensuring timely medical care and essential health services for communities affected by the earthquake.
