Countries around the world have pledged assistance to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 164 people, injured nearly 1,000 others and caused widespread destruction across the country.
The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck on 24 June, severely damaging Caracas and several northern regions while triggering a large-scale international humanitarian response.
The United States announced it would provide a comprehensive emergency response. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the effort would involve multiple government agencies, with the Department of War expected to play a major logistical role.
"It'll be big, it'll be fast, and it'll be effective," Rubio said during a visit to Bahrain.
Several Latin American nations, including Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, also pledged support for rescue and recovery efforts.
Cuba confirmed that its medical personnel were already assisting victims. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Cuban health workers were "fully mobilised and providing medical services to the affected population."
European countries also committed resources to the relief operation. The Netherlands announced about €2 million in funding to deploy rescue teams, search dogs and specialist equipment. Spain and France each promised to send dozens of rescuers, while Germany pledged six military transport aircraft. Switzerland also offered emergency response teams and rescue dogs.
Iran expressed its willingness to provide humanitarian assistance. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the country was ready to offer any support required for rescue operations while expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan government and its people.
China also announced it was prepared to provide any assistance requested.
The United Nations said specialist search-and-rescue teams were travelling to Venezuela to help locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher praised the international response.
"The coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the government-led response and help communities," he said, adding that continued international funding for humanitarian organisations remained "essential and urgent."
The earthquakes are the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900 and have further strained a country already facing a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said Venezuela's existing economic difficulties, flooding and health challenges had already placed enormous pressure on essential services.
"We are talking about a system that in some parts was already, if not weak, then under several constraints and challenges," he said. "If you look at the number of injuries, just to give an example, that would overwhelm any health system."
According to the United Nations, about 7.9 million people in Venezuela already required humanitarian assistance before the disaster, representing nearly 28% of the country's population.
Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, warned that the earthquakes would worsen conditions for millions already struggling.
"This earthquake will deepen the suffering for millions already in dire need," Egeland said. "Donors must urgently step up support as this earthquake has become a catastrophe on top of a crisis."
Humanitarian organisations also noted that relief efforts remain severely underfunded, with only a fraction of the money requested for Venezuela's humanitarian response having been delivered.
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