In aftermath of Venezuela earthquakes, World Vision responds to country that was already on edge

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Wednesday, July 01, 2026

When twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last Wednesday, Jankiel Rosenwald, the humanitarian and emergency affairs adviser at World Vision, was attending a birthday party on the rooftop of a building in Caracas.

He got lucky. While multiple buildings collapsed during the earthquakes that have left nearly 2,000 people dead in the capital of the South American nation, the building where Rosenwald was attending the party remained standing. And Rosenwald quickly jumped into action.

“I made sure my family was in a safe space and then began helping those around me,” he told The Christian Post. “I helped a woman get out of her apartment through the window on the first floor because her door was obstructed.”

The next day, as he traveled across Caracas, the humanitarian and emergency affairs adviser to the international Christian aid organization, he “could see that everyone was in shock and was overwhelmed by the situation.”

“Many people fled their apartments without their phones, keys, wallets, or anything else. I saw people sleeping overnight in public squares with just their clothes on their backs. We’ve heard from officials that more than 40 buildings have collapsed, and we’ve been advised not to return to any buildings until we are sure that they are structurally sound,” he explained.

“More than 100 buildings collapsed in Caracas due [to] the earthquake and as time passes and rescue efforts advance, we are noticing an increasing number of children being rescued but separated from their parents who are still unaccounted for.”

Gianluca Rampolla Del Tinardo, the United Nations resident coordinator for Venezuela, said they are securing 10,000 body bags in anticipation of the death toll rising.

“It’s been really devastating to see how severe the aftermath of the situation has gotten from the twin earthquakes to now the aftershocks that are putting people in fear of another potential future earthquake,” Rosenwald told CP.

In Venezuela, World Vision serves on the ground through a vast network of some 2,000 trained local churches, volunteers and community partners called Hope Without Borders. Rosenwald said they are focused on addressing the impact of the earthquakes on vulnerable children.

“The trauma experienced by children who have endured two consecutive earthquakes, and potentially the loss of their parents, loved ones, and homes is an event that is deeply frightening to children in Venezuela and this can have long-lasting effects,” Rosenwald explained.

“To address the emotional dimension of this emergency, we are establishing safe, accessible, child-friendly spaces in affected communities and near shelters, ensuring supervision, access control, and protection from risks. Additionally, we will provide psychosocial support to address stress management, promote resilience, and prevent violence, which tends to increase under these conditions.”

Despite being among those affected by the earthquakes themselves, Rosenwald said that churches and their members “have continued to help, sharing what little they have left and what they have received.”

“The churches are rebuilding to continue contributing to solutions in their communities, reorganizing to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches every vulnerable person through them,” he said.

As people think about the impact of the earthquakes in Venezuela, Rosenwald wants them to remember that the country had been in a prolonged political and socioeconomic crisis for decades.

“Approximately 4.5 million people live in Greater Caracas. In that city and in surrounding areas such as La Guaira, La Catia, and Guarenas (districts of Miranda State), families live in conditions of high vulnerability due to the prolonged crisis that has affected the country for decades,” he said.

“The lack of water and the accumulation of waste are potential sources of disease that could further complicate an already collapsed and overwhelmed health system. The restoration and recovery of this densely populated city will take months, possibly years,” he added, calling on the international community for support.

He urged Christians to pray or visit worldvision.org if they are looking for ways to donate to the recovery efforts on the ground.

Among the target areas for support are emergency food assistance to prevent hunger and malnutrition; clean water and hygiene supplies to reduce the spread of disease; temporary shelter materials for families who have lost their homes; medical care and essential supplies for those injured or at risk; and child-friendly spaces to provide safety, stability, and emotional care after trauma.

“We are calling on all parties to devote as much prayer, attention, and funding as possible to this situation. We need all hands on deck from everyone involved to make sure that the people of Venezuela are able to begin recovering as soon as they can,” Rosenwald said.