Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cadis International
Caracas (Fides News Agency) – One month after the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela, the humanitarian response remains in full swing as relief organizations continue to support affected communities. The Camillian humanitarian organization, Camillian Disaster Service (CADIS) International, is coordinating emergency operations together with the Camillians of the Province of Brazil and CADIS Brazil, while leading a fundraising campaign to provide essential supplies to the country's most vulnerable communities.
At the same time, CADIS has launched a collaboration with the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (MHSFN) to help restore access to education and offer children a return to normality.
According to a statement sent to Fides, the earthquake has further deepened the country's already severe socio-economic crisis, destroying more than 400 school buildings. In many areas, surviving families are still living in temporary shelters without access to basic services such as drinking water, food and healthcare. Although local communities and religious congregations have provided immediate relief, the suspension of school activities has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges.
To prevent thousands of students from being left without education, the MHSFN sisters plan to reopen their partially damaged school in Caracas in September, even though restoration work on the building continues. The school will operate on a double-shift schedule: morning classes will continue for the approximately 400–600 students already enrolled, while afternoon sessions will welcome children whose schools in neighboring communities were destroyed by the earthquake. Relief operations continue to face significant logistical obstacles, as Caracas Airport has been converted into an emergency hub, forcing most humanitarian aid to be routed through Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia.
According to official government figures, the two powerful earthquakes that struck northwestern and central Venezuela on June 24 (see Fides, 24/6/2026) claimed at least 5,346 lives and left 16,740 people injured. Tens of thousands were displaced: more than 16,300 lost their homes completely, while another 28,300 were left with homes deemed uninhabitable. More than 23,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and are currently living in temporary shelters set up across the affected areas.
Furthermore, the government has not yet released an estimate of the number of people still missing beneath the rubble, but the United Nations believes the figure could be as high as 50,000. (AP) (Fides News Agency, 22/7/2026)
