Caritas Venezuela: 14,700 tonnes of humanitarian aid received

By Giovanni Zavatta 

Around 14,700 tonnes of humanitarian aid have reached Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country's north on 24 June. Of that total, 9,000 tonnes have already been distributed, while 5,700 tonnes remain in warehouses, ready for the next phases of the relief operation.

According to the first official bulletin released by Caritas Venezuela—Tras el temblor, el amor ("After the Tremor, Love")—the response has also included the delivery of 73,356 units of medical supplies and medicines through 26 collection points across Greater Caracas and La Guaira, as well as 8,000 comprehensive relief kits, 5,000 food packages, 3,000 hygiene kits, and 1,000 kits for emergency response teams.

The report provides a detailed account of the humanitarian operation carried out during the twelve days from 25 June to 6 July in response to the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes. It outlines a relief effort that combined the large-scale distribution of aid with a rigorous system for tracking every shipment. The dossier includes detailed statistics, a breakdown of assistance by sector, a map of operations across the country, and photographic documentation of the response.

More than 8,000 families receive comprehensive assistance

From the first hours after the disaster—which has so far claimed more than 3,800 confirmed lives—Caritas Venezuela activated its diocesan and parish network to assist the hardest-hit communities, including La Guaira, the Capital District of Caracas, and several regions in central and western Venezuela.

Water accounted for the largest share of the aid distributed, totalling 4,031 tonnes, followed by 3,247 tonnes of food. More than 8,000 families received comprehensive assistance, representing an estimated 32,000 to 40,000 people. Overall, around 730,000 food rations have been distributed.

Caritas members survey the damage   (© Cáritas Venezuela) {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2026/Luglio/08/imgs-caritas-venezuela-terremoto-24jun2026-8-600x338.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"} An army of 3,360 volunteers

Caritas describes its volunteers as the "heart" of the emergency response. On average, 280 of the organisation's 3,360 registered volunteers take part in relief operations each day, each contributing around seven and a half hours of service, for a combined total of 2,100 volunteer hours daily in support of affected families.

Their work has been reinforced by volunteer teams from Puerto Rico and Chile. The wider Caritas network—from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean, and from Spain to Germany—has also deployed specialists to work alongside local teams in areas including water and sanitation, risk management, nutrition, and shelter.

Caritas Italiana remains in close contact with Caritas Venezuela and immediately launched a fundraising campaign to support the emergency response. As previously announced, the Italian Bishops' Conference has allocated an initial €500,000 to finance urgent relief efforts.

Caritas distributes aid   (© Cáritas Venezuela) {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2026/Luglio/08/caritas-venezuela-terremoto-2.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"} Aid distribution guided by transparency

Caritas Venezuela stresses that every shipment of humanitarian assistance is documented through numbered and signed delivery records, together with transfer logs, ensuring full traceability throughout the operation.

The organisation has also urged donors to channel contributions exclusively through its official platforms and to be wary of unverified accounts.

The bulletin notes that the resources mobilised so far cover only the initial emergency phase, while recovery and reconstruction will require sustained solidarity over the longer term.

The dossier also includes testimonies from local bishops, who have remained close to affected communities through an intensive pastoral presence and direct support for those suffering in the wake of the disaster.

Caritas Venezuela aid distribution   (© Cáritas Venezuela) {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2026/Luglio/08/caritas-venezuela-terremoto-3.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"}