Chronic illness and diarrhea surge in quake-hit Venezuelan communities as humanitarian crisis builds

CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela — Residents affected by the recent twin earthquakes in Venezuela have been seeking assistance from various relief services provided by NGOs in the most heavily impacted areas. Both earthquake victims and those who were spared from the destruction have been turning to these organizations for help in the aftermath of the natural disasters.

The United Nations has launched an appeal for approximately $300 million to aid 1.3 million people in urgent need of assistance in Venezuela. NGOs are now able to operate more freely in the country following a period of government repression. Mobile kitchens, clinics, and field hospitals have been set up in public spaces in La Guaira, the region most severely affected by the earthquakes.

Many individuals seeking help at displacement sites have been unable to access their regular medical treatments, resulting in an increase in long-term health issues. Doctors in Catia La Mar have reported a rise in skin conditions, diarrheal diseases, and requests for medications to treat chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

One resident, Irma Echarri, visited a mobile unit for treatment of a nose pain she developed after the earthquakes. Although her home was not damaged, many of her neighbors are now living in temporary shelters or outdoors due to the destruction caused by the earthquakes.

The earthquakes left thousands of people without homes, with many now residing in schools, sidewalks, parks, and other public spaces. The United States has been a major provider of aid for the earthquake response, with local organizations working alongside global humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance on the ground.

Despite the significant physical damage caused by the earthquakes, the presence of NGOs in Venezuela has been crucial in providing relief efforts. Following years of government repression, these organizations are now able to operate more freely and assist those in need during times of crisis.

“In times of crisis, people come together to prioritize saving lives above all else, and that unity is evident in the response efforts we are seeing in Venezuela,” said U.N. relief chief Tom Fletcher.