Venezuela: One month after the earthquakes, humanitarian funding falls far short

Up to 1.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the areas affected by the earthquakes, over 700,000 more people than before the earthquakes struck. The Humanitarian Response Plan has been revised to include the earthquake response, increasing requirements by nearly 50 per cent. The amended plan aims to support 6.2 million people over an initial six-month response period. Yet the plan is currently only 39 per cent funded. 

"The first month after a disaster often brings global solidarity and attention. The real test now is whether that support continues after the headlines start to fade," said Elena Vicario, NRC’s country director in Venezuela. "Families who lost homes, livelihoods and access to essential services cannot rebuild their lives on short-lived commitments." 

Prior to the earthquakes, over one quarter of the population was in need of humanitarian assistance and humanitarian organisations were already responding to significant needs, including protection, education, health, water and sanitation, and livelihoods across the country. The revised response plan integrates these existing priorities with emergency earthquake assistance within a single framework. 

"We welcome the rapid mobilisation of resources following the earthquakes, but this funding must complement, not replace, support for existing humanitarian needs. Donors should ensure funding is sustained, reaches all sectors, and strengthens the capacities that already exist in Venezuela. Local communities, organisations, and long-standing humanitarian actors have the knowledge and access needed to reach affected populations, and new support should reinforce their work,” said Vicario.

After the earthquakes, nearly 24,000 children have had their education disrupted, further increasing the number of children in need of education support. So far, the education sector is only under 5 per cent funded, after years of underfunding from the international community, which has left education needs consistently unmet. 

“For children living in temporary shelters, the emergency is far from over,” said Liliana Largo, NRC’s education programme development manager. “The routines that once provided stability and protection have been disrupted, and emotions such as fear emerge, affecting their ability to concentrate and learn. Temporary learning spaces and psychosocial support are critical in helping children rebuild a sense of normality and wellbeing, and must be treated as a core part of the emergency response."   

NRC’s emergency response has evolved significantly over the past month. The organisation began by assessing needs in 16 temporary shelters. During the first month, NRC assisted more than 2,400 displaced people, distributing hygiene kits and other essential items to affected families, while also providing psychosocial support sessions for children, and legal counselling for people who have lost civil documentation and property ownership records.  

"One month on, people affected by the earthquakes are still living with uncertainty every day. The humanitarian community now faces a choice: sustain the response and help communities recover or allow funding shortfalls to turn this disaster into a longer-term crisis. The world must not look away," said Vicario.