More than 200,000 people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela have received humanitarian assistance, the United Nations has said, as relief efforts continue over five weeks after the disaster.
Speaking at a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the assistance was delivered through coordinated efforts involving the UN, humanitarian partners, local communities and Venezuelan authorities.
According to Haq, the support provided includes hot meals, healthcare services, clean water, emergency shelter, as well as legal and psychological assistance for women, children and other vulnerable groups as affected families begin rebuilding their lives.
He also disclosed that the Venezuelan government and UN partners have launched a comprehensive needs assessment to guide recovery, reconstruction and long-term development initiatives.
However, Haq warned that continued international assistance remains crucial, noting that the UN’s Humanitarian Response Plan for Venezuela is only 42 per cent funded.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s official death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck the country’s north-central region on June 24 has risen to 6,125.
The latest reconstruction bulletin, released by authorities on Monday, recorded an additional 579 deaths compared to the 5,546 fatalities reported on July 24.
Officials also said assessments of damaged buildings are ongoing, warning that thousands of homes remain unsafe more than five weeks after the earthquakes.