World Health Organization warned on Tuesday (30 June) that Venezuela's healthcare system is under severe strain after twin earthquakes struck last week, killing more than 1,700 people, injuring thousands and overwhelming hospitals.
The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, flattening buildings and damaging critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and water systems.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said at least three health centres had been critically damaged, while six others were only partially operational or had suffered structural damage.
"The rest remain operational, but under significant strain," Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.
A survey of 21 health facilities found overcrowding, chaotic patient flows and growing surgical backlogs, with hospitals struggling to cope with trauma, orthopaedic and neurosurgical cases.
Lindmeier said several maternity healthcare workers in La Guaira remain missing, creating what he described as a critical gap in obstetric care.
The latest official figures put the death toll at more than 1,430, with more than 3,200 people injured and at least 3,100 families directly affected. However, broader estimates suggest the toll may be higher as assessments continue.
Search and rescue teams from 27 countries, involving more than 2,200 personnel and 140 search dogs, are continuing efforts to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Health officials warned that thousands of people displaced by the earthquakes face an increased risk of disease outbreaks, including yellow fever and dengue, particularly because of low vaccination coverage in some areas.
UNICEF said hundreds of thousands of children had been affected, with damage reported at hospitals in La Guaira, Caracas, Carabobo, Aragua and Falcón.
In the Capital District alone, preliminary data show 432 schools have been damaged, many of which are now being used as temporary shelters.
UNICEF said it had mobilised emergency supplies to support around 650,000 people, including 234,000 children, while additional shipments are expected in the coming days.
The United Nations has established three field hospitals in La Guaira, equipped with intensive care units and trauma treatment facilities, to ease pressure on damaged local hospitals.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla visited the worst-affected areas over the weekend and said international solidarity had been vital.
"The first priority is to get the people still alive out of the rubble," Rampolla said.
Officials said urgent needs now include medicines, electricity, clean water, sanitation and mental health support, as aftershocks continue to hamper recovery efforts.
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Fourteen people were killed on Sunday after a helicopter belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura, according to Saudi state media.
Rescue teams raced on Sunday to find more survivors of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela this week, with signs of life bringing occasional relief to a grim quest to whittle down a list of tens of thousands missing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country is going through a “difficult period”, but has learned much from it, according to state news agency TASS.
The United States and Iran have agreed to halt strikes against each other, in a potential breakthrough after weeks of escalating tensions. The two sides are expected to meet in Doha on Tuesday to address their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Pakistan has responded to a deadly Karachi Rangers compound attack with cross-border strikes and diplomatic protests against Afghanistan, signalling a tougher counterterrorism stance towards militants it says are based there.
Police in Monaco and France were searching on Tuesday (30 June) for a suspected bomber after a parcel explosion wounded three people in the wealthy Mediterranean principality. Authorities are treating the incident as attempted murder.
The United States is expected on Wednesday to formally signal that it will not extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), triggering a lengthy review process that could ultimately reshape the North American free trade framework.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for renewed global action to prevent terrorism by tackling its root causes, warning that rising global instability is creating conditions in which extremist groups can thrive.
For decades, Japan was one of Asia's most popular destinations for Chinese tourists. From 1 July, however, a steep rise in visa fees is adding fresh pressure to a travel market already weakened by political tensions and falling visitor numbers.
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