Following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the western coast of Venezuela, causing widespread collapses, the situation across the entire territory is extremely critical. In addition to a tragic toll currently recording 2,595 casualties, 12,400 injured, and more than 38,000 missing, there are approximately 12,000 displaced people and nearly 59,000 buildings damaged or destroyed throughout the country, with the State of La Guaira formally declared a disaster zone. Venezuela is facing the collapse of its healthcare system, power and communication outages, and a transport gridlock, compounded by the closure of the Simon Bolivar International Airport.
Since the beginning of the crisis, numerous entities of the Order of Malta have mobilized to structure an integrated humanitarian response to assist the affected communities. The Order’s international relief agency, Malteser International, has allocated 250,000 euros for initial interventions and has deployed an emergency response team on the ground. This team operates in close coordination with the German Embassy, the Venezuelan Association of the Order of Malta, Caritas Venezuela, and local authorities. On the healthcare front, the team has carried out inspections at the Hospital Ortopédico and the Hospital Domingo Luciani in Caracas to assess urgent needs, which are exacerbated by the fact that many hospital facilities are without power and ambulances are scarce.
To address the dramatic overcrowding of local hospitals, Malteser International, in close logistical coordination with the Venezuelan Association of the Order, is deploying mobile medical units that will provide decentralized and continuous medical care in the hardest-hit communities for three months. Malteser International is also arranging the shipment of medicines and medical supplies directly from Germany to alleviate the acute structural shortages in the crisis region. Joining this initiative are two expert doctors from Malteser International’s pool, who have been integrated into the emergency medical team composed of 27 specialists from Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe. Furthermore, the Venezuelan Association is handling the direct distribution of essential goods, such as drinking water and clothing.
International solidarity has seen the immediate mobilization of various national Associations and Relief Corps through fundraising and the deployment of resources.
From Italy, CISOM (the Order of Malta’s Italian Relief Corps) is actively engaged in collecting financial contributions that will enable the deployment of specialized medical and technical personnel, the distribution of medical materials and essential goods, as well as the strengthening of coordination with other international organizations present in the crisis area. Concurrently, an initial team is reaching the country to launch the field assessment plan.
From Spain, Orden de Malta España launched the “Emergencia Venezuela” fundraising campaign immediately after the tremors to bolster the overall humanitarian response capacity.
Crucial aid is also arriving from Latin America: the Order’s Association in Uruguay has organized an extensive collection of emergency hospital materials and equipment, including saline solutions, IV start kits, gauze, bandages, and sutures, along with essential medications such as anesthetics, antibiotics, and tetanus prophylaxis, as well as supplies of non-perishable food, water, and powdered milk. The Cuban Association of the Order of Malta, in collaboration with CAMACOL and the Venezuelan Association, has mobilized to provide urgent and targeted medical and humanitarian assistance to the most severely affected populations in the La Guaira area. In El Salvador, the Order has devised a solidarity campaign called “Combo Solidario” to raise funds for the livelihood of the Venezuelan population. The Order’s Embassy in Panama, as well as Malteser International Americas, are currently focusing their efforts on promoting dedicated fundraising campaigns to support the emergency response.
The logistical and operational coordination between the different international entities and local structures ensures an integrated management of aid flows during this extremely critical phase. As emergency operations continue on the ground, the thoughts and prayers of the entire Order of Malta remain constantly with the communities affected by the earthquake.
