Rebuilding Venezuela after the earthquakes that killed more than 5,000 people in the country on June 24 will take years, the Red Cross said Friday, a month after the disaster.
• Also read: Venezuela: earthquake caused nearly US$20 billion in damage
• Also read: Death toll from double earthquake in Venezuela rises to 5,119
“This disaster is far from over,” said the spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Scott Craig, to journalists.
Health care, mental health support and access to clean water are immediate priorities, he added, as many families continue to rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing.
“More than 5,000 people have died, nearly 17,000 have been injured, and around 23,000 are still living in temporary shelters,” he added, specifying that “health centers, schools, water, electricity and sanitation systems have been destroyed or seriously damaged.”
Thousands of people suffering from chronic illnesses still do not receive regular treatment, putting their health at risk.
On June 24, earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 struck north of the capital Caracas, destroying hundreds of buildings, particularly in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira.
A month later, the search continues to find bodies, but operations have now been reoriented towards humanitarian aid and reconstruction, Mr. Craig said.
The IFRC, the world’s largest humanitarian network, is asking for 50 million Swiss francs ($60 million) to help 300,000 people over two years. To date, 25% of this amount has been collected.
“The recovery process will be measured in years, not weeks,” Craig said.
Oil-rich Venezuela has for years faced widespread poverty due to economic mismanagement and intense pressure from the United States and its allies.
That pressure has eased since Washington removed President Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in January, but the government’s economic needs to address the crisis remain considerable.
