Powerful earthquakes have devastated Venezuela, affecting 6.7 million people
On 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes – measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude – struck Venezuela just seconds apart, causing widespread destruction across parts of the country, including the capital, Caracas. Homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.
Thousands of people have been killed and injured, as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble for survivors. More than 1.8 million people, including 680,000 children, are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
As the full scale of the devastation becomes clearer, children and families are facing immense uncertainty, with many in urgent need of safe shelter, clean water, healthcare and protection. Donate now to help UNICEF deliver lifesaving support to children and families affected by the earthquakes.
Venezuela Earthquakes Appeal
Children and families need urgent support after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela.
Children in Venezuela were already facing immense challenges
Even before these earthquakes, children in Venezuela were living through a prolonged humanitarian crisis driven by economic instability, rising costs and weakened public services. Millions of families were already struggling to afford food, healthcare and other essentials, and children faced growing risks of malnutrition, disease, violence and disruptions to their education.
An estimated 8 million people in Venezuela, including 4 million children, need humanitarian assistance. Now, the earthquakes have added another devastating layer to an already fragile situation.
How is UNICEF responding?
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, families need immediate support to meet their most urgent needs, including:
- Emergency health care
- Safe drinking water
- Sanitation and hygiene supplies
- Temporary shelter
- Essential household items
- Child protection and psychosocial support
UNICEF teams are on the ground assessing urgent needs and mobilising support to help children and families affected by the earthquakes. UNICEF has already started delivering lifesaving support, including medical supplies and equipment, tents, wheelchairs, water purification tablets and other essential water, sanitation and hygiene supplies. But we need your help to reach more children and families in need.
How will my donation help children impacted by the earthquakes?
UNICEF is working alongside our partners to provide lifesaving healthcare, water sanitation and hygiene to families in urgent need.
- $100 could help provide 20,975 water purification tablets, enough to turn over 100,000 litres of dirty water into safe water for drinking, washing and cooking for 225 children a month.
- $127 could help provide 252 sachets of lifesaving nutrition paste Plumpy’Nut®, enough to help two children with severe malnutrition to recover through a full course of treatment.
- $500 could help provide 11 first aid kits, which could help treat a range of injuries during emergency situations.
- 78¢on average, 78 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went directly to helping children in need, including long-term programs, emergency response and community education.
- 22¢on average, 15 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went to essential fundraising costs that helped us generate more impact for children, 7 cents went to admin costs, such as keeping your personal data safe.
How do we use each dollar donated?
