Team WOLA
On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, impacting the country’s central coastal region, including Caracas. So far, at least 164 people have been reported dead as a result of the tremors, and nearly a thousand have been injured, though these tragic numbers are expected to keep rising in the coming days. The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) expresses our solidarity with the Venezuelan people following these devastating earthquakes.
Since at least 2016, Venezuela was already experiencing the collapse of public services amid a complex humanitarian crisis. After years of institutional dismantling and corruption, the country’s capacity to respond to a situation like this is severely limited. For this reason, a rapid international support response is needed, along with effective coordination of humanitarian relief among various international actors. Humanitarian assistance must be able to reach the hardest-hit areas without obstacles, on a priority basis, and without discrimination of any kind. We recognize the international support already offered by the United States, several Latin American countries, and the United Nations, while noting that this support comes amid massive cuts to international assistance by the United States and amid historic cuts to international assistance more broadly.
We also reiterate that access to information saves lives. In emergency contexts, it is essential to guarantee open and unrestricted communications, including access to media outlets, social networks, and tools that allow people to receive information, contact their families, and request help. It is essential that Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) lift all blocks on social media, media outlets, and VPN services.
We will continue to monitor the evolving situation and the international response, and we reiterate our solidarity with all those affected.
Newsletter
Subscribe to get the latest on analysis and policy
