The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), is scaling up humanitarian and protection assistance in Venezuela following last week’s devastating earthquakes, which have triggered a sharp rise in humanitarian needs across the country’s hardest-hit areas. Speaking at a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 30 June 2026, UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf said initial on-the-ground assessments show widespread food shortages, breakdowns in basic services, and severed connectivity in La Guaira state, according to a press release. Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained. UNHCR has mobilized immediately to support affected communities. The agency requires an estimated $14.85 million to deliver protection, relief items, and shelter support for 30,000 people over six months.
Between 26 and 27 June, UNHCR conducted a rapid needs assessment in La Guaira, the Capital District, Miranda, Aragua, and Carabobo states. The findings revealed that 75 per cent of respondents reported injuries in their communities, while 56 per cent reported fatalities. Half of those assessed are staying with neighbors or relatives, and 39 per cent are living in streets and public spaces. Others have taken refuge in churches, schools, or improvised facilities. Older people and those with disabilities face compounded risks due to limited mobility and reduced access to digital information.
Authorities have confirmed 1,719 fatalities, at least 5,034 people injured, and 15,866 people affected as of 29 June. Infrastructure damage is extensive, with 189 structures collapsed and 666 sustaining damage or partial collapse. Improvised shelters do not meet minimum protection standards, including for privacy, safe spaces, and basic hygiene. Seventeen per cent of those surveyed reported the presence of unaccompanied or separated children in their communities. The UNHCR-led Protection Cluster has launched a campaign to address child protection risks, particularly family separation.
Efforts under the campaign focus on awareness-raising, identification, family tracing, and ensuring children’s safety. UNHCR is supporting local authorities with tools and equipment to safely collect and manage information on affected people, helping identify specific needs and refer them to appropriate services. Emergency supplies are being transported from UNHCR’s local warehouse in Táchira to La Guaira. Additional capacity is being mobilized to move more than 20 tonnes of relief items from UNHCR’s global stockpiles in Panama. UNHCR partner CARITAS has established a donation collection and storage center at the Episcopal Conference premises, including with UNHCR tents and a rub hall, to support aid distributions.
As the situation evolves and protection risks grow, UNHCR reiterated the importance of timely, flexible support for people in dire need across all affected communities. The agency is working on multiple fronts to deliver life-saving assistance and protection services. Initial findings from the rapid assessment underscore both the scale of destruction and the vulnerabilities of specific groups. The Protection Cluster’s ongoing work aims to reduce further risks to children and families. UNHCR’s appeal for $14.85 million reflects the estimated needs for the coming six months of response.
