Venezuelans in Colombia scramble to send aid as earthquakes death toll increases
✓People unload donated goods from a car marked "For Venezuela" as humanitarian aid to be sent to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes, in Bogota on June 26, 2026. Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Three days after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, President Delcy Rodríguez has pledged to save "as many people as possible" and called for unity as the death toll from the country's worst earthquakes in more than a century continues to rise.
More than 900 people are dead and over 3,000 injured, according to authorities, with many still unaccounted for. Thousands more have been left homeless, with survivors sleeping in public squares, shelters or parks.
But on the ground, frustration is growing over what many see as a slow and disjointed response.
International teams are arriving, but limited equipment and an overstretched health system are slowing the effort. In several hard-hit areas, there are still no heavy rescue tools, with residents forced to dig through rubble by hand.
In Colombia, home to the largest Venezuelan population abroad, hundreds of people have turned up at community centers to donate non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and even pet supplies.
Humanitarian groups across Colombia and other neighboring countries are now racing to collect essential items to support survivors in the weeks ahead.
People unload donated supplies from a truck at a collection point in Bogota on June 26, 2026, as humanitarian aid to be sent to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes. Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images
Isabel Mendoza, a Venezuelan street vendor who has lived in Colombia for the past five years, arrived at a donation center in Bogotá with clothes she no longer uses, along with gloves, face masks and rolls of toilet paper she bought after learning of the disaster.
"I'm from Maracaibo, so my family was not affected," Mendoza said. "But I've been to places like Caracas and La Guaira, and it just breaks my heart to see this happening to our people."
Mariana Godoy, a logistics specialist, arrived with a shopping cart filled with bottled water, energy drinks, cookies, deodorants and sanitary products. She said a relative, a doctor in Caracas, was unable to return home after his building was badly damaged and is now sleeping in his office with his wife and children.
"Our country is going through a really tough moment, so we must do all we can to help," Godoy said.
Gisella Serrano, a Venezuelan humanitarian worker, said she expects the crisis to last for months. Her foundation is coordinating with other groups to store supplies in warehouses before sending them to Venezuela on flights, with support from Colombian airlines.
But aid groups say delivering donations will require negotiating permits with the Venezuelan government.
The government has previously been reluctant to accept assistance from private organizations, particularly those linked to opposition groups. Within Venezuela, activists have accused authorities of obstructing relief efforts. In some cases, they say donations have even been confiscated.
"This crisis will go on for some time," Serrano said. "This is not something that will be solved in a matter of days."
Read the full story at NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
A double earthquake has struck Venezuela, causing significant casualties and displacement. Authorities report over 900 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries as of three days after the event, with many people still missing and thousands without shelter. The government has committed to rescue efforts, though on-site operations have progressed slowly due to limited equipment and an already-strained health system. In neighboring Colombia, where the largest Venezuelan diaspora resides, hundreds of people have gathered at community centers to donate food, hygiene products, clothing, and other essentials. Humanitarian organizations are coordinating collection and storage of supplies for transport into Venezuela. However, aid groups note that delivering assistance will require navigating permitting processes with the Venezuelan government, which has previously been selective about accepting private aid.
Read the full story at NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
People unload donated goods from a car marked "For Venezuela" as humanitarian aid to be sent to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes, in Bogota on June 26, 2026. Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Three days after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, President Delcy Rodríguez has pledged to save "as many people as possible" and called for unity as the death toll from the country's worst earthquakes in more than a century continues to rise.
More than 900 people are dead and over 3,000 injured, according to authorities, with many still unaccounted for. Thousands more have been left homeless, with survivors sleeping in public squares, shelters or parks.
But on the ground, frustration is growing over what many see as a slow and disjointed response.
International teams are arriving, but limited equipment and an overstretched health system are slowing the effort. In several hard-hit areas, there are still no heavy rescue tools, with residents forced to dig through rubble by hand.
In Colombia, home to the largest Venezuelan population abroad, hundreds of people have turned up at community centers to donate non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and even pet supplies.
Humanitarian groups across Colombia and other neighboring countries are now racing to collect essential items to support survivors in the weeks ahead.
People unload donated supplies from a truck at a collection point in Bogota on June 26, 2026, as humanitarian aid to be sent to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes. Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images
Isabel Mendoza, a Venezuelan street vendor who has lived in Colombia for the past five years, arrived at a donation center in Bogotá with clothes she no longer uses, along with gloves, face masks and rolls of toilet paper she bought after learning of the disaster.
"I'm from Maracaibo, so my family was not affected," Mendoza said. "But I've been to places like Caracas and La Guaira, and it just breaks my heart to see this happening to our people."
Mariana Godoy, a logistics specialist, arrived with a shopping cart filled with bottled water, energy drinks, cookies, deodorants and sanitary products. She said a relative, a doctor in Caracas, was unable to return home after his building was badly damaged and is now sleeping in his office with his wife and children.
"Our country is going through a really tough moment, so we must do all we can to help," Godoy said.
Gisella Serrano, a Venezuelan humanitarian worker, said she expects the crisis to last for months. Her foundation is coordinating with other groups to store supplies in warehouses before sending them to Venezuela on flights, with support from Colombian airlines.
But aid groups say delivering donations will require negotiating permits with the Venezuelan government.
The government has previously been reluctant to accept assistance from private organizations, particularly those linked to opposition groups. Within Venezuela, activists have accused authorities of obstructing relief efforts. In some cases, they say donations have even been confiscated.
"This crisis will go on for some time," Serrano said. "This is not something that will be solved in a matter of days."
Read the full story at NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Three days after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, the death toll exceeded 900 people with over 3,000 injured and many unaccounted for Thousands of survivors are sleeping in public squares, shelters, or parks President Delcy Rodríguez pledged to save 'as many people as possible' and called for unity On-ground frustration is growing over what many see as a slow and disjointed response Limited equipment and an overstretched health system are slowing rescue efforts In several hard-hit areas, residents are forced to dig through rubble by hand due to lack of heavy rescue tools Hundreds of Venezuelans in Colombia have turned up at community centers to donate non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and pet supplies Humanitarian groups are racing to collect essential items to support survivors in the weeks ahead The Venezuelan government has previously been reluctant to accept assistance from private organizations, particularly those linked to opposition groups Within Venezuela, activists have accused authorities of obstructing relief efforts and confiscating donations in some cases
Read the full story at NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Three days after a double earthquake in Venezuela, authorities report over 900 deaths and 3,000+ injuries, with many unaccounted for and thousands homeless
- President Delcy Rodríguez pledged to save 'as many people as possible,' but on-ground response has been slow and disjointed, with limited rescue equipment in hard-hit areas
- Venezuelans in Colombia, home to the largest diaspora population, are organizing donations of food, hygiene products, and clothing through community centers and humanitarian groups
- Aid delivery faces obstacles including overstretched health systems, limited equipment, and the Venezuelan government's historical reluctance to accept private assistance