Aid Groups Support 234,000 Venezuelan Children After Twin Earthquakes
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 11
Aid Groups Support 234,000 Venezuelan Children After Twin Earthquakes
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 11
Summary
234,000 children are among roughly 650,000 people needing help after last month’s twin earthquakes in Venezuela, with aid groups focusing not just on food and shelter but trauma care.
Eight to 10 mobile child-friendly spaces in Caracas and La Guaira are offering play, counseling and group activities, which UNICEF and World Vision say help children process grief and regain a sense of safety.
Shelters are also supporting caregivers and trying to protect children from exploitation, as aid workers warn some unauthorized people have entered camps to take advantage of the crisis.
Family separation has added legal and emotional strain, with Venezuelan authorities required to place children first with relatives before any foster or adoption process can begin.
Returning children to school and stable routines remains a priority, but many still suffer anxiety, with some staying awake late out of fear another disaster could strike.
Amidst Venezuela's total collapse, is play therapy enough to secure a future for 234,000 traumatized children?
With a collapsed state and foreign sanctions, how can Venezuela possibly rebuild from $37 billion in earthquake damage?
Over 3,500 Dead, 17,000 Injured: The Humanitarian and Child Crisis After Venezuela’s June 2026 Earthquakes
Overview
On June 24, 2026, powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing immediate and widespread devastation. Thousands of families were plunged into crisis, losing their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. The disaster hit a country already struggling with limited access to basic services and weakened public systems, which made the humanitarian needs even greater. The emotional toll was immense, as people waited desperately for news of missing relatives and faced the harsh reality of loss. Emotional support became as vital as food, water, and medical care, highlighting the deep impact of the catastrophe on Venezuelan society.