How to help victims of deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Scores of people were killed and hundreds have been injured.
Relief efforts are underway after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing more than 160 people and injuring almost 1,000 as of Thursday morning.
Emergency responders were undertaking "intensive rescue operations" early Thursday, searching for people thought to be under the rubble, Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he spoke with Rodriguez and that the U.S. is sending search and rescue teams to the country.
Here's how you can help those affected by the earthquakes:
Global Empowerment Mission
Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization based in Doral, Florida, said it is teaming up with a Venezuelan partner to respond to the crisis.
"Our recon and emergency response teams are deploying immediately and is expected to be on the ground this Friday," the group wrote on its website. "From here, we will be assessing needs, coordinating with local partners, and begin our response operations."
Click here to learn more.
International Federation of the Red Cross
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) said the Venezuelan Red Cross is responding with a network of hospitals and polyclinics continuing to deliver care.
Rescue teams are support evacuation and search efforts and four assessment teams have been sent to the worst-affected areas.
The IFRC said the most urgent anticipated needs "are search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency health care, including trauma care and psychosocial support. Safe water and sanitation and essential household items are also expected to be priorities in the hours and days ahead."
The Venezuelan Red Cross said its headquarters was among the buildings affected by the earthquake and the group is accounting for the safety of its staff and volunteers.
Click here to learn more.
Save the Children
Save the Children, an international NGO, said it is "responding and working urgently with the teams and partners to assess needs and support affected children and families."
The group said that the extent of the destruction is currently unclear but past experiences indicate children will need urgent support including food, water, shelter and healthcare.
Click here to learn more.
OCHA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is rapidly deploying Urban Search and Rescue teams -- highly specialized emergency response units -- through the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, a U.N. advisory body.
"Devastating Venezuela earthquakes. I'm in close contact with our team in Caracas to ensure full and urgent response, including search and rescue support and emergency relief for survivors," Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a statement. "International solidarity coming in. We'll need all hands on deck."
U.N. agencies, including the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the Office for Project Services, UNICEF and the U.N. Refugee Agency, said they are ready to support response efforts -- and in some cases are already mobilizing support.
Click here to learn more.
World Vision
World Vision, a nonprofit Christian humanitarian aid and advocacy organization, wrote on X that it is "assessing needs" and preparing a response to the earthquakes in Venezuela.
The organization shared personal accounts from staff affected by the earthquakes.
Luis Colmenarez, regional emergency content and communications specialist for World Vision in Barquisimeto, about 217 miles west of the capital of Caracas, said he was a in a movie theater when the earthquakes happened.
"People began running amid screams and cries. Children were screaming. Some people stopped to pray; panic took over the theater, as the darkness made it impossible to see the exit," Colmenarez said, according to the post on X. "Some people stumbled and fell. All of this happened while we were trying to find an emergency exit. The shaking lasted between two and three minutes -- it felt endless."
Click here to learn more.
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