Death toll rises to 920 as UN agencies race to deliver aid amid fears of worsening displacement and widespread destruction……
The United Nations has warned that nearly seven million people may have been affected by the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela, as rescue efforts continue and the death toll climbs close to 1,000.
According to a new assessment released by the UN migration agency, up to 6.76 million people could be impacted by the disaster that hit the country on June 24, with as many as two million residents in the capital, Caracas, believed to be among those affected.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said its projections, based on population data and early damage analysis, underscore the scale of what it described as a potentially “vast humanitarian crisis.”
Entire neighbourhoods in La Guaira, north of Caracas, have been reduced to rubble following the powerful tremors, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. Buildings collapsed across coastal communities, leaving residents trapped beneath debris.
Authorities say the confirmed death toll has reached 920, while tens of thousands of people remain missing. UN humanitarian officials, including emergency response coordinator Tom Fletcher, have warned that more than 50,000 individuals are still unaccounted for.
The IOM also revealed that satellite-based analysis conducted with Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab showed extensive structural damage in affected areas, including Catia La Mar, where about 31.5 per cent of buildings are believed to have been damaged.
The agency said such tools are helping humanitarian teams identify the hardest-hit communities and prioritise emergency assistance as on-the-ground assessments continue.
“The first hours and days after a disaster are decisive. They shape everything that follows,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope.
She added that emergency response efforts are already underway, with pre-positioned relief supplies being deployed and coordination ongoing with the Venezuelan government and partner organisations to provide shelter, food, water, sanitation and protection services.
Pope warned that displacement is expected to rise significantly, particularly in a country already grappling with an ongoing humanitarian crisis before the earthquakes struck.
The UN migration agency stressed that urgent international support is needed to meet rapidly growing humanitarian demands, noting that timely intervention could help save lives and reduce further suffering.
“Timely humanitarian assistance will save lives, alleviate suffering and help affected communities begin the long road to recovery,” the agency said.
