By Minaz Kerawala, Communications and Public Relations Advisor
Following Wednesday’s devastating Venezuela earthquakes, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada has announced an initial contribution of $50,000 to help our local partner, Caritas Venezuela, respond to the emergency. We are also calling Canadians to give generously to help the Venezuelan people.
Venezuela earthquakes: the worst in over a century
At 6:04 p.m. local time on June 24, 2026, there was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake at San Felipe, in the state of Yaracuy, followed by another of magnitude 7.5, just 39 seconds later. The quakes, the strongest to strike Venezuela since the year 1900, have caused widespread damage across much of the country, especially in the La Guaira region and the capital, Caracas.
By Friday morning, Venezuelan authorities were reporting 589 people killed and 2,980 people injured. Media reports indicate that tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for, indicating that the ultimate death toll will likely be much higher. Statistical modelling by the United States Geological Survey pegs the probability of 10,000 people dying at 59 per cent, with a 17 per cent chance of the toll surpassing 100,000.
A beleaguered country, a resilient people, a capable partner
No disaster is ever opportune, but this one could not have come at a worse time for the people of Venezuela. Decades of political and economic turmoil, internal mismanagement and the stifling weight of American sanctions have sapped the Venezuelan economy and eroded the state’s capacity to absorb such a shock. The kidnapping of President Maduro by U.S. forces, a flagrant violation of international law that we denounced, has not helped.
Already at the start of this year, 7.9 million people needed humanitarian aid. They represented over a fourth of Venezuela’s population. This dismal situation will now be substantially exacerbated, especially for the estimated 3.9 million children who live in the quake-affected areas.
Still, there is cause of hope. Always hardy and resilient, the Venezuelan people have in recent years developed a remarkable capacity for solidarity and ingenuity in coping with the many adversities they face daily. And Caritas Venezuela has accompanied them in every struggle.
With its vast diocesan networks, its decades-long presence and the trust it enjoys among the people it serves, Caritas Venezuela is better equipped than almost any other organization to respond to these Venezuela earthquakes. They have already set up dozens of local collection, distribution and coordination centres to take much-needed emergency aid right to the frontlines. They are also coordinating closely with the global Caritas network to ensure that international donations are received and deployed efficiently.
In these early stages, they will concentrate on addressing people’s most urgent needs, including for food, water, shelter, clothing, hygiene supplies, medication, etc. Later, the focus will shift to rebuilding, recovery and rehabilitation. But to do all this, they need your help right now. Please give generously to help the people of Venezuela.