The Pan American Health Organization urged donors to fund a nearly 24 million‑dollar six‑month health emergency plan for Venezuela after the June 24 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck the northern coast.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced on Wednesday that it is seeking $23.9 million U.S. dollars to sustain a six‑month emergency response in Venezuela following the devastating seismic events that shook the country’s northern region on June 24.
The tremors, recorded at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread damage to health facilities, disrupted water and sanitation services, and left thousands in need of urgent medical care.
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According to the PAHO statement, the requested funding will be used to maintain or restore essential health services, strengthen epidemiological surveillance, prevent disease outbreaks, and guarantee uninterrupted access to essential medicines and vaccines. The plan also aims to support the early recovery of the national health system, focusing on the most affected populations in the state of La Guaira, which lies close to the capital, Caracas.
PAHO/WHO launches a US$24M emergency appeal to support health response & early recovery after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela
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Lifesaving care
Solidarity is critical now.
https://t.co/Xt1D3DeXC0 pic.twitter.com/oZP5cRJK0P
— PAHO/WHO (@pahowho) July 1, 2026
PAHO director Jarbas Barbosa emphasized that while search‑and‑rescue operations continue, the emergency has entered a new phase where the risk of epidemics looms large. “Hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of injured, and the threat of communicable disease outbreaks is real”, Barbosa said. He added that the financial appeal will save lives and reestablish critical services, urging governments, development partners, international financial institutions, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector to show solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
The appeal comes amid a grim toll reported by Venezuelan authorities: 2,295 fatalities and at least 11,267 injured since the quakes. International assistance has already begun, with experts from roughly 30 countries deployed to support rescue efforts.
Con esta entrega, hemos movilizado 6,2 toneladas de insumos para apoyar la emergencia.#TodosConVenezuela
— Jarbas Barbosa (@DirOPSPAHO) July 1, 2026
Text reads: “We are committed to supporting the health response in Venezuela. Today PAHO/W.H.O. delivered 4 tons of essential supplies from our Strategic Reserve in Panama to strengthen the care of people affected by earthquakes. With this delivery, we have mobilized 6.2 tons of supplies to support the emergency.”
The PAHO has dispatched emergency health specialists from its strategic hub in Panama, conducted rapid hospital assessments, and mobilized four tonnes of medical supplies-including trauma kits, medicines, and emergency equipment- to the affected zones.
In addition to immediate relief, the funding will facilitate the procurement of vaccines, laboratory reagents, and other critical inputs needed to bolster the country’s immunization programs and diagnostic capacity. The organization stressed that a coordinated approach is essential to avoid secondary health crises that could exacerbate the suffering of the estimated 700,000 residents living in the hardest‑hit areas.
Barbosa concluded by calling on all stakeholders to respond swiftly. “We ask the international community to back this appeal and express their solidarity with the people of Venezuela”, he stated, highlighting that timely funding will not only address present needs but also lay the groundwork for a resilient health system capable of withstanding future shocks.
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