Samaritan’s Purse Working in Venezuela After Quakes
Our Disaster Assistance Response Team is on the ground and an Emergency Field Hospital has opened to help care for survivors of the earthquakes.
- Our Emergency Field Hospital has opened in the hard-hit city of La Guaira.
- Two airlifts from North Carolina to Venezuela carried nearly 200,000 pounds of relief materials.
- More than 1,700 people were killed and more than 5,000 were injured after the strongest quake to strike the nation in more than a century. More than 15,000 people are displaced and many thousands are still missing. Food shortages are widespread.
Samaritan's Purse is responding in Jesus' Name after Venezuela was hit by devastating earthquakes. On June 27 and 29, the ministry’s 767 cargo plane airlifted life-saving supplies, including an Emergency Field Hospital, to the Latin American nation. Our disaster response specialists are on the ground in Venezuela, with dozens more to follow in the coming days. Set up began on the hospital in hard-hit La Guaira on Sunday and it opened on Tuesday.
Back-to-back earthquakes rocked Venezuela within a minute of each other on June 24. Both tremors measured over 7.0 in magnitude; the second quake reached 7.5, making it the strongest to hit the country in over a century. Aftershocks continue, complicating search-and-rescue and relief efforts.
More than 1,700 people are confirmed dead and many thousands more are injured or missing. Hospitals in the hardest hit areas were strained before the quake, and now dozens are damaged and overwhelmed with people in desperate need of care. Our Emergency Field Hospital is capable of treating more than 100 people each day. It is equipped with two operating rooms, a critical care unit, pharmacy, and laboratory. Samaritan’s Purse has also airlifted emergency shelter material, solar lights, and blankets to provide relief to families who are suffering.
“This is going to be a long-term effort. I think we're only just beginning to understand the full extent of the destruction in Caracas and La Guaira. Multiple hospitals are damaged or overwhelmed, roads have been split wide open, and hundreds of buildings have collapsed. People are living on the streets—terrified of aftershocks. They need our prayers,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “It's heartbreaking to see the suffering and loss. We love the people of this country, and we want to do all that we can to help in Jesus' Name.”
Please continue to pray for residents of Venezuela, especially around La Guaira and Caracas. Pray for our response team and for their boldness while serving as the hands and feet of Jesus.
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Medical Care and Critical Relief Continue After Venezuela Earthquakes
Samaritan’s Purse teams are receiving patients at our emergency field hospital as we continue to meet needs alongside local churches in hard-hit communities.
Javier was at work when the ground began to shake violently. While he made it out of the building safely, he was horrified to find that his apartment building had collapsed while his wife was there alone.
“There was no time,” he said. “We were in shock and we were disoriented because it was something that took us by surprise.”
Javier and many others have been waiting on word about loved ones missing since the two deadly earthquakes struck northern Venezuela just seconds apart in the evening hours of June 24.
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes, the second of which was the most powerful to hit the country in more than a century, left thousands dead, missing, or injured in and around Caracas and La Guaira. Many families remain displaced and wandering debris-filled streets amid hundreds of frightening aftershocks.
Survivors like Javier continue to wait on word about loved ones who are still missing since the tremors.
“I’ve spent three sleepless nights here waiting for an answer with all the hope in the world, praying for God’s help,” he said, looking at the crumpled apartment building. “We are devastated.”
Airlifting Relief in Jesus’ Name
Following two 767 airlifts to the region days after the quakes, Samaritan’s Purse has opened an Emergency Field Hospital and is receiving patients.
Our 56-bed hospital, equipped with two operating rooms, a critical care unit, a pharmacy, and a laboratory, will help relieve the already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Multiple health facilities collapsed, and remaining hospitals have been inundated with casualties.
“We set up here not only to address the immediate need of the trauma that’s occurred, but we’re also going to be here for a couple months operating this field hospital to really support the overall health of the La Guaira state,” said Peter Holz, hospital director on the response.
These relief efforts meet physical needs and provide opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We believe that God would have us help our neighbor, and our neighbor is Venezuela,” Peter said. “We’re here not only to help heal the physical, but we also want to share with them the love of Jesus through our work.”
First Patients Treated at Our Field Hospital
Mariana was one of the first patients through the door. She was enjoying a quiet afternoon in her apartment when the building started swaying back and forth. Before she could find cover, a concrete wall collapsed on top of her.
“I went several days without any medical attention, and I could see my injuries weren’t getting any better,” she said.
When she arrived at the field hospital, our team welcomed her with open arms, tending to her infected wounds, performing an X-ray on her foot, and prescribing antibiotics. Team members also prayed for Mariana before she left and scheduled a follow-up visit.
“I am truly grateful for the attention and understand that the Lord brought you to this place to help our people,” she said.
Serving in Jesus’ Name Alongside Local Churches
We also have many disaster specialists on the ground providing shelter, water, solar lights, and blankets to many hurting people.
Working with a network of local church partners, our team has also started distributing essential relief items to the hardest hit communities.
Eusebio, pastor of a local congregation, was grateful to receive emergency shelter tarps, solar lights, blankets, and hygiene kits to help his community.
“We felt like there wasn’t going to be help from anywhere or from anyone,” the pastor said. “Then suddenly Samaritan’s Purse showed up. God knows our hearts.”
Cecilia, a faithful member Eusebio’s church, was overwhelmed when she received the relief items from her church’s parking lot. Because her home sustained severe structural damage, Cecilia and her seven family members have been sleeping on the ground in the town square. She is thankful to use the tarp as shade from the scorching sun and protection from the rain.
“I’m very grateful because we are seeing the hand of God in this situation,” she said. “Thank God that help has come.”
Clean Water for Cutoff Communities
Our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) teams are setting up two desalinization units near the epicenter of the quakes, each able to produce 400 gallons of clean drinking water per hour.
“Without clean water, you have disease,” said Bruce Clounie, WASH Program Manager. “The water filtration systems are able to take water out of the ocean and make it clean, fresh drinking water.”
Please continue to lift up those affected by the earthquake and for our team on the ground.
