UNICEF: 680,000 Children need humanitarian aid after devastating Venezuela Earthquakes

Nearly 680,000 children are estimated to require urgent humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The agency said around 1.8 million people, including hundreds of thousands of children, have been affected by the disaster, which caused widespread destruction across the country's northern regions. 

UNICEF said the twin earthquakes severely damaged homes, schools, healthcare facilities and essential infrastructure, leaving many families without access to safe shelter, clean drinking water, healthcare and education. Children are among the most vulnerable, facing increased risks of injury, disease, displacement and psychological trauma. 

To support the emergency response, UNICEF has dispatched its first humanitarian aid flight carrying critical medical supplies, water and sanitation equipment, tents and other life-saving relief materials. The organisation is working with national authorities and humanitarian partners to deliver emergency assistance to affected communities as quickly as possible. 

The agency warned that the earthquakes have compounded an already fragile humanitarian situation in Venezuela. Even before the disaster, millions of people across the country required humanitarian support due to persistent challenges in accessing healthcare, clean water, education and other essential services. 

UNICEF is appealing for increased international support to scale up relief efforts, prioritising child protection, nutrition, healthcare, education and access to safe water. The organisation stressed that timely humanitarian assistance is critical to protect children and help families begin the recovery process. 

Humanitarian agencies continue to assess the full extent of the damage as rescue and relief operations remain underway in the earthquake-hit regions. UNICEF said it will continue working closely with partners to meet the urgent needs of children and vulnerable families affected by the disaster.