The UN has announced that it has reached an agreement with Venezuelan authorities to purchase 10,000 body bags, in order to address the needs arising after the double earthquake registered last week, which according to the latest official balance has left more than 1,700 dead.
The humanitarian coordinator in Caracas, Gianluca Rampolla, has stressed that there is still no definitive figure for missing persons, but the UN and the Venezuelan Government have decided to acquire 10,000 body bags due to the possibility that the death toll may continue to rise, as indicated by the international organization itself.
The most recent official figure raises the number of dead to 1,719, the injured to more than 5,000, and the displaced to around 12,000. Around 2,500 buildings have suffered damage, many of them completely collapsed, Rampolla recalled in a press conference.
Although search and rescue efforts are usually concentrated in the first 72 hours after an earthquake, teams have opted to extend them because they continue to receive signals of possible trapped individuals and are still finding survivors, the coordinator explained.
"We continue to operate in a high-risk environment," Rampolla remarked, before pointing out that since the two initial earthquakes, about 500 additional tremors have been registered, including one of magnitude 5.2 early Monday morning, while a tropical storm threatens to unleash heavy rains on the already hit areas. In this regard, Caracas has confirmed more than 600 "seismic events" and an even greater number of aftershocks.
Care and psychosocial support centers
The UN is setting up three care centers in La Guaira to accommodate families who have lost their homes. These spaces will provide health assistance, food, drinking water, sanitation services, protection, and psychosocial support.
The head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Venezuela, Vanessa May, has indicated that many people have suddenly lost any sense of security. "Going from having a house, having a home, to being in a shelter or temporary accommodation is not going to be easy," she said.
For this reason, emotional support is considered as essential as food, water, or medical care. "There are people who need a hug," he recounted. Numerous families await news of their loved ones, and others are already aware that their loved ones remain under the rubble.
Damage assessment and long-term reconstruction
Once the search tasks are completed, the UN and its partner organizations will carry out rapid assessments to identify the most urgent needs, including those of the elderly and people with disabilities. The next phase will involve the removal of rubble and the beginning of early recovery, with special attention to the damage suffered by schools and hospitals.
May stressed that reconstruction will require close coordination with the authorities to define where displaced families can settle and to conduct soil studies before any relocation. "This is going to take time," he warned.