Earthquakes in Venezuela

Following the earthquakes in Venezuela last Wednesday, MENTOR teams in the country have been assessing the situation and responding to the most urgent health needs.

This includes supporting one of the few hospitals still operational in La Guaira by supplying essential medical consumables to meet increased patient demand and the growing need for trauma care.

Supplies such as disinfectants and personal protective equipment help reduce the spread of infections within healthcare settings and protect both patients and staff.

While search and rescue operations continue, we are preparing for the next phase of the emergency response to help prevent the situation from escalating into a broader health crisis.

MENTOR is taking action to reduce the risk of water- and vector-borne diseases in La Guaira which is higher because the debris and rubble created from the destruction of buildings could potentially become prolific breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

We are reactivating the community network and local suppliers that were established during our programme that started in 2021 to address the threat of dengue and other diseases.

These networks aim to ensure the adequate provision of safe water and proper water storage to reduce the number of breeding sites and the spread of vector-borne diseases.

MENTOR has been active in Venezuela since 2021 supporting emergency interventions to protect people against the risk of vector-borne diseases with community-based interventions that has reached nearly 870,000 people.

Adriana Rodríguez, MENTOR emergency coordinator in Venezuela, said: “The level of destruction is devastating. While immediate rescue and trauma care is needed, we are concerned about the aftermath of the earthquakes. MENTOR’s experience in similar contexts and Venezuela is key to ensure a subsequent public health catastrophe doesn’t happen.”