UNFPA asks for $10 million to expand reproductive health response after Venezuela quakes

Paolo Narvaez, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told a virtual briefing that UNFPA requires $10,000,000 to expand its response and reach 121,000 people in need of reproductive health and protection services.

"UNFPA requires $10,000,000 US dollars to expand its response and reach 121,000 people in need of reproductive health and protection services," Narvaez said, adding that the operation had so far received 40% of that target. He described the request as necessary to scale up emergency obstetric care, reproductive health kits, and gender-based violence protection services across affected areas.

Narvaez framed the appeal against the scale of the disaster: at one month after the earthquakes he cited official counts that more than 5,000 people have died and over 23,000 have been displaced, placing heavy demand on health and protection services. He said UNFPA has already supported hospitals and communities with training, equipment, medicines, and direct services in shelters.

The briefing did not include a specific timeline for when additional funds would be spent; Narvaez said recovery planning is only beginning and that restoring services will take years. He urged sustained international support and coordination with UN partners and national authorities to ensure funds translate into services for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.