UN coordinator: about 1,450 dead after Venezuela quakes as international rescue teams operate on the ground

Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, the United Nations resident humanitarian coordinator for Venezuela, told reporters the country is facing a ‘‘high-risk environment’’ after back-to-back earthquakes and continuing aftershocks that have worsened damage and hampered recovery efforts. ‘‘Since Wednesday last week, when we got hit by the two 2.7 2.5 back-to-back earthquakes, we have had 500 aftershocks,’’ he said, adding that an early-morning 5.2 aftershock occurred the morning of the briefing.

Rampolla said the government’s latest official figures ‘‘as of the latest update yesterday night’’ show about 1,450 people have lost their lives, more than 3,000 have been injured and over 12,000 displaced. He cautioned the totals will likely rise as search-and-rescue and assessments continue.

Search-and-rescue teams have continued operations beyond the critical 72-hour window. ‘‘Yesterday alone seven persons were pulled out of the rubble alive,’’ Rampolla said, noting rescuers are still finding survivors. He described the immediate humanitarian focus as emergency medical care, shelter, food, water and sanitation, logistics for storage and distribution, and protection of affected populations.

International assistance has mobilized rapidly, Rampolla said. ‘‘Twenty-seven countries have mobilized over 40 teams of European search and rescues … it means over 2,000 rescuers personnel on the ground with over 160 dogs operating within the framework of the INSARAG,’’ he said, referring to the UN-coordinated International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.

On planning and needs, Rampolla declined to speculate about the number of people still missing and said the UN is ‘‘working hand-in-hand with the government’’ on official figures. He said damage assessments indicate at least 2,500 structures were affected, most of them fully collapsed, and described one early planning assumption: the UN is procuring 10,000 body bags. ‘‘That is a planning assumption. It’s very sad, and we truly hope that actually the number is going to be smaller than that,’’ he said.

Responding to questions about funding, Rampolla said the UN will issue an addendum to its existing humanitarian plan and that some financing has already been pre-allocated. ‘‘The United States of America, the European Union through ECHO, other countries bilaterally, and the UN through the CERF have already pre-allocated resources,’’ he said, adding those funds are being put to use to start response activities.

When asked about coordination with U.S. teams on the ground, Rampolla said the UN is ‘‘working very closely’’ with deployed U.S. personnel on logistics and asset coordination and that the United States had been among the first to announce the availability of funding. On aggregated rescue totals, he said he did not have a full compiled figure but reiterated that international teams are coordinating with national rescuers and private initiatives.

Pressers asked how the UN will ensure incoming aid reaches intended recipients. Rampolla said there are established coordination mechanisms and an ‘‘aid architecture’’ in place in Venezuela since 2019; through those mechanisms the UN will work with authorities to prioritize use and distribution of supplies and financing to maximize impact.

Rampolla, who said he had spent two full days in the most affected areas, praised the ‘‘heroism of the people’’ and international solidarity while warning the approaching tropical wave and heavy rains could worsen conditions for displaced people. He said search-and-rescue and emergency response will continue and that the UN would follow up with a formal funding appeal addendum.

The briefing concluded after reporters’ questions; Rampolla reiterated the need for continued international support as on-the-ground assessments and rescue work proceed.