Venezuela quake response requires ‘massive collective effort’: UN aid chief

The United Nations is “fully mobilised” to provide assistance in quake-hit Venezuela, the UN’s aid chief said on Thursday (June 25, 2026), stressing the response would require “massive collective efforts”.

Venezuela’s strongest earthquake since 1900 killed at least 164 people as it destroyed multiple buildings near the capital.

“We are fully mobilised to support the people of Venezuela,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a statement.

He said he had spoken on Thursday morning with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, and “we are assessing urgently what is needed”.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA was meanwhile “coordinating the rapid deployment of urban search and rescue teams from across the international community”, Mr. Fletcher said.

“I am surging a rapid response team to reinforce the OCHA team in country,” he added.

Fletcher welcomed the international outpouring of aid and assistance already on display.

“The coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the Government-led response and help communities,” he said.

The UN aid chief pointed out that even before the earthquakes hit west of the capital Caracas on Wednesday (June 24) evening, nearly eight million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian support.

“This disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities,” he warned.