Salvation Army teams are providing initial relief and support in communities affected by Venezuela's deadly earthquakes

Local Salvation Army teams from across Venezuela are now on the ground in Caracas and are delivering help and supplies to relieve in communities affected by two powerful earthquakes that struck on 24 June. 

Response Underway

After a 19-hour journey across Venezuela, navigating damaged roads, debris, and restricted access, Salvation Army teams have reached Caracas and are now operating from a local church, which will be used as a distribution hub over coming weeks and months. 

The Salvation Army team, made up of officers and volunteers, immediately set to work, procuring and distributing essential supplies from their base and working alongside a local partner church to reach communities with acute unmet needs. Food, hygiene supplies, basic household items, sleeping mats, and blankets are being sourced locally and delivered directly to people most severely affected. 

Scale of Impact and Displacement 

Across impacted areas, families are sleeping outside in streets, parks, and open spaces after their homes were damaged or are no longer safe. The scale of the disaster continues to grow, with at least 920 people killed, more than 3,300 injured, and tens of thousands still missing as search and rescue operations continue. Teams are prioritizing these communities as aftershocks persist; access remains limited in some locations, and communication challenges and road damage slow efforts to reach those most in need. 

Relief is being directed to communities with the most urgent needs, particularly those displaced from their homes and sleeping outside, as well as areas affected by damaged infrastructure and limited access to services. 

Relief Priorities and Ongoing Needs 

Teams are delivering essential supplies, sourced locally and distributed directly to families in affected communities as needs continue to grow, with ongoing aftershocks continuing to disrupt air and road access to some areas. 

“The preliminary assessment shows significant needs for food, hygiene supplies, household items, sleeping mats, and blankets. Many people are sleeping outdoors due to damage to their homes, and these priorities will continue to be refined as access to affected communities improves,” said Ricardo Gomez, Emergency and Development Coordinator for The Salvation Army’s Latin America North Territory. 

In addition to meeting immediate physical needs, teams are also offering emotional and spiritual support, spending time with individuals and families who have lost homes, loved ones, and a sense of security as the situation continues to unfold. 

Communities across the affected region are facing urgent and evolving needs. As response efforts expand, continued support is critical to reach more people and sustain assistance in the days ahead. 

How Support Makes an Impact 

Support is needed to: 

• Deliver essential items such as food, hygiene supplies, and basic household goods 
• Reach communities that remain difficult to access due to damaged infrastructure 
• Maintain a sustained presence as needs increase and more areas become accessible 

Donations enable The Salvation Army to respond quickly, support local teams already on the ground, and remain alongside communities as they begin the longer process of recovery. 

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The Salvation Army is often among the first to respond in times of crisis, with local teams and church networks already in place, and remains long after the initial emergency phase, supporting communities through recovery and rebuilding.