Following powerful earthquakes that brought widespread devastation to northern Venezuela, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has mobilized immediate, life-saving assistance to support affected communities and address urgent humanitarian needs.

Two of the strongest earthquakes in over a century struck northern Venezuela on June 24. A magnitude 7.2 foreshock and a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, 39 seconds apart, caused structural collapses and devastation in the capital city of Caracas, as well as La Guaira, and across several states.

While search and rescue operations are ending, hundreds of aftershocks, widespread destruction and disruption to essential services mean humanitarian needs remain acute. Thousands of people remain displaced, and many are still without safe shelter, healthcare, clean water and other basic services.

The humanitarian operation is moving from emergency to early recovery, and the priority is helping communities recover safely. Shelter, primary healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, protection, safe water and sanitation, and support for people with chronic health conditions have become increasingly urgent.

The Venezuelan Red Cross is operational and responding to the needs of those affected alongside the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Hundreds of Venezuelan Red Cross volunteers and staff are supporting the response, and the IFRC has deployed several specially trained international responders to support response operations, communications, health and finance. In conjunction with the IFRC, the American Red Cross has also deployed a trained international responder to support operations management at the IFRC Regional Office in Panama. The Movement is working to mobilize additional support as needed. Recovery for affected communities will take time.

The Venezuelan Red Cross health network of eight hospitals and 34 polyclinics remains active, and the Venezuelan Red Cross has set up a field hospital and two first-aid stations in La Guaira.

The first 17 metric tons of humanitarian aid sent by the IFRC to support the Venezuelan Red Cross's response have arrived in the country, with further shipments on the way.

With communications disrupted and many families separated, Red Cross societies in 10 countries — Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay — have activated Restoring Family Links services and are preparing to accept tracing and welfare requests.

Family members in the United States that are unable to contact loved ones in Venezuela as a result of the earthquakes can initiate a search through the Restoring Family Links program by submitting an International Reconnecting Families Inquiry Form or calling our free national helpline at +1 844-782-9441. The Venezuelan Red Cross is currently focused on immediate response efforts, and it may be some time before they are able to process welfare requests.

The American Red Cross is closely coordinating with the IFRC to provide an initial financial contribution to response efforts and will continue working to mobilize additional financial and personnel support as needed in the coming days and weeks.

More information from the IFRC on the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response is available in English and Spanish.