Venezuela

30 June 2026

On 24 June 2026, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes, Falcon, La Guaira, Lara, Miranda, and Yarucay states and the capital city, Caracas, in northern and central Venezuela, marking one of the most devastating seismic events in Venezuela's history. By 30 June, about 2.4 million people had been exposed to severe shaking from the two earthquakes, including 15,800 people displaced, more than 50,000 reported missing, over 10,600 people injured, and 1,900 killed. These numbers are expected to increase as emergency response efforts continue. The earthquake event collapsed 800 buildings, damaging or destroying 38 hospitals and 433 schools, and damaged main roads, bridges, and tunnels, including the main airport in Caracas, likely constraining the entry of humanitarian organisations and emergency responders into the country and the areas hit. Immediate needs include shelter, WASH, healthcare, ready-to-eat meals, and protection support. (PI 29/06/2026, IFRC accessed 30/06/2026, OCHA 01/07/2026)

06 January 2026

On 3 January 2026, the US Armed Forces carried out air strikes on military targets in and around Caracas and apprehended Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The operation killed over 50, including at least one civilian, although reports vary widely given conflicting accounts from Cuban, US, and Venezuelan sources. A nationwide state of emergency was declared, with security forces deployed in the capital, and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed executive authority. The operation compounds a severe humanitarian crisis, with 7.9 million Venezuelans needing humanitarian assistance. Pre‑existing needs include food insecurity, collapsing health services, and widespread poverty, with another 7.9 million Venezuelans displaced abroad. While information on needs resulting from the attacks remains limited, initial reports point to reduced access to food, water, electricity, healthcare, and communications and heightened risks of protection incidents, especially for children, as armed parties tighten control and communities consider internal or cross‑border displacement. (NYT 03/01/2025, CFR accessed 07/01/2025)

08 July 2025

Since June 2025, a powerful tropical wave has been causing heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides across Venezuela, particularly in the states of Apure, Barinas, Mérida, and Zulia, in the western part of the country. The Government reported that 25,000 people were affected at the end of June. Floods and subsequent landslides damaged nearly 400 homes, as well as roads, bridges, and public services, including the power grid. As a result, communities risk isolation. Damages to the water supply infrastructure and contamination of natural sources have reduced access to drinking water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Some of the states affected already had limited access to healthcare services in rural and remote locations. The people affected require access to WASH, healthcare, and shelter. The Government is responding to the emergency, but Venezuela’s economic and political crisis may hinder its ability to support people in need. (IMC 03/07/2025, El Pais 27/06/2025, IFRC 27/06/2025)

27 February 2024

Food access continues to be a struggle for people in Venezuela, especially households living below the poverty line. The political and socioeconomic crisis, marked by increasing inflation and foreign exchange rates, contributes to increasing food prices. The cost of a basic food basket recorded a 347% increase between October 2022 and October 2023, reducing people’s purchasing power and leading to the use of potentially harmful coping strategies. These strategies include child labour and forced engagement in sexual work for money, goods, or services, increasing protection risks. Based on a recent survey of 11,000 households across 20 states, over 94% of the population do not have sufficient income to purchase goods and services, and above 30% are forced to engage in low-income informal work to access essential services, including food. (OCHA 27/02/2024, HumVenezuela 30/11/2023, Caracas Chronicles 30/09/2021)