A devastating series of powerful earthquakes has struck Venezuela, killing and injuring thousands and causing widespread destruction across multiple regions. The magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the country in a century has severely damaged infrastructure, including the closure of the main international airport and has caused significant power and communications outages in parts of Caracas. Families have been displaced, with schools now being used as shelters and community support centers.
This disaster comes at a particularly challenging time, as vulnerable communities face growing humanitarian needs and limited access to essential services. The scale of damage is still being assessed, but early indications show urgent needs for food, logistics support, and emergency assistance across affected areas.
WFP is on the ground supporting the Government of Venezuela and humanitarian partners to respond quickly and effectively. As the world’s leading humanitarian organization addressing hunger, WFP is helping to coordinate logistics and deliver critical assistance, leveraging its global expertise in emergency response to reach communities in need, even in the most challenging environments.
Already, WFP is mobilizing to deliver life-saving food assistance to displaced and vulnerable families impacted by the earthquakes. At the same time, WFP is supporting the movement of essential relief supplies and personnel, helping ensure that humanitarian partners can access affected communities and scale up operations as needs evolve.
With extensive experience responding to natural disasters worldwide, WFP is uniquely positioned to play a central role in supporting recovery efforts in Venezuela ensuring that families have the food and support they need to survive and begin rebuilding their lives.
