Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC shares the latest update from the Venezuelan earthquake relief programme, following the double earthquake that shook the city of Caracas on June 24th. Aid efforts are ongoing following the disaster, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Venezuela are working in conjunction with Caritas Caracas to bring vital support to survivors of the quakes.
Today, we share the latest updates from Br Deiby, featuring the most recent news on relief efforts in the wake of the disaster.
HOPE AMIDST THE RUBBLE
In the face of the emergency caused by the double earthquake and intense tropical waves in the state of La Guaira, the humanitarian and pastoral response remains constant and tireless. Thousands of affected individuals, distributed across official transitory camps and tent shelters along the entire coast, receive continuous accompaniment from Cáritas, consecrated life, apostolic groups, NGOs, and people of good will.
The magnitude of the disaster continues to manifest in the atrocious and incalculable amount of rubble that still buries vast areas of the coast. Although rescue teams and heavy machinery work intensely day and night, dozens of collapsed buildings and infrastructures remain untouched due to the extreme complexity and hazardous nature of the terrain.
Ground zero devastation and rubble clearing in affected locations.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACTION & PASTORAL PRESENCE
Amidst this heartbreaking scenario, the Catholic Church’s presence spans from spiritual comfort to direct on-the-ground material aid through key operational fronts
- Spiritual Support & Grief Counseling
Priests and pastoral agents walk among the victims, sharing their pain through Holy Masses, Holy Hours, and funeral services, standing as a comforting shoulder in times of absolute helplessness.
- “Luchemos por la Vida” Foundation
Providing holistic care for children and youth through sports, recreational activities, and athletic footwear distribution to restore smiles, emotional health, and hope to affected young people.
- Mobile Medical Clinics
Multidisciplinary healthcare teams conduct itinerant medical operations across settlements, offering clinical evaluations, early diagnoses, free treatment distribution, and care for chronic patients.
- Community & Consecrated Life
Apostolic groups, youth movements, Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), and consecrated communities actively deploy to ensure solidarity translates into food, clothing, and essential supplies for every family.
- Mental Health & Listening Ministry
Teams of psychologists, psychiatrists, and trained agents offer psychological first aid, emotional containment, and safe spaces to process trauma, grief, and uncertainty in the shelters.
- Collection Center & Resource Management
Hosted at the parish headquarters, donated supplies are meticulously classified and distributed in an equitable, responsible, and organized manner based on specific field reports.
- Logistics & Supply Chain
Uninterrupted supply distribution including categorized medications, infant formula, diapers, non perishable food, drinking water, mattresses, and sleeping pads for temporary shelters.
- Daily Hygiene, Food & Hydration
Operation of community kitchens, regular distribution of personal hygiene kits (soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads, disinfectants), and guaranteed daily drinking water supplies.
Inventorying and preparing pharmaceutical donations for patients.
INSPIRED BY THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
All this logistical and human labor is not driven by mere philanthropy, but by the living impulse of the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is in His pierced Heart that volunteers, priests, and laypeople find the boundless source of love, mercy, and compassion to serve those who suffer.
Understanding service through this spirituality means recognizing the face of Christ Himself in every brother and sister in distress or under a tent. Every food ration delivered, every prescription filled, and every embrace offered to the families of La Guaira becomes a tangible extension of Jesus’ redeeming love, reaffirming that living faith translates into concrete action and unconditional dedication to the service of others.
PASTORAL RESPONSE AND HUMANITARIAN IMPACT IN THE FACE OF THE SEISMIC EMERGENCY
1. PASTORAL MISSION AND EMERGENCY CARE
From the pastoral heart of La Santa Cruz Parish, entrusted to the work of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we keep alive a mission of faith, service, and hope in response to the emergency caused by the recent double earthquake. In a fraternal and uninterrupted alliance with Caritas Caracas, our community has become a beacon of comprehensive aid and spiritual support for families currently experiencing deep vulnerability, sustaining a daily effort that goes beyond basic assistance to become a true exercise of listening, comfort, and missionary presence.
Our operational work extends with particular strength toward La Guaira state, one of the geographic areas most severely impacted by destruction. With absolute rigor, responsibility, and transparency in managing received donations, we direct the delivery of essential supplies such as drinking water, non-perishable food, clothing, footwear, medicines, and shelter materials like tarps. This chain of solidarity is driven by men and women of faith and goodwill who, dedicated to serving their neighbors and even contributing from their own resources, ensure that all aid reaches the most impacted communities effectively, guaranteeing dignified and equitable care.
Direct distribution of hot meals at search and rescue sites.
2. STRATEGIC LINES OF ACTION IN THE TERRITORY
Field operations encompass daily sustenance as well as specialized medical care, rescue support, and community development:
- Comprehensive Medical Care: Coordinating and implementing health fairs in critical locations, such as the temporary shelter at Liceo Juan Landaeta, backed by the extraordinary commitment of specialists in Internal Medicine, Psychology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Gynecology.
- Support for First Responders: Preparing and distributing hot meals to rescue teams and first responders deployed across various areas of La Guaira.
- Strategic Partnerships and Prevention: Collaborating with non-profit foundations to offer free gynecological cancer screenings, securing management and funding for specialized studies valued at approximately $10,000 for the direct benefit of local women.
- Childcare and Recreational Activities: Thanks to the support of partner foundations, children in temporary shelters received athletic footwear. Additionally, recreational activities aimed at restoring joy to children and their families were conducted, including bicycle raffles, gift giveaways, and special surprises. These events are always paired with words of faith, encouragement, and a listening ear to address their concerns, offering compassionate and proactive accompaniment.
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Pharmacy and emergency medical supply tent set up on-site.
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Distribution of new athletic footwear to children in temporary shelters.
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Recreational and emotional support activities for shelter families,
3. SPIRITUAL AND SACRAMENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT
Throughout this pastoral journey, spiritual and sacramental support plays a vital role. We count on the selfless cooperation and presence of Father Tom O’Brian, MSC, who is fully dedicated to serving our community: celebrating Mass in temporary shelters, visiting the sick in their homes, and administering sacraments at La Santa Cruz Parish. His work, alongside that of the missionary team, reinforces a pastoral approach centered on active listening and closeness, comforting souls and sustaining faith amid adversity.
Personal pastoral visits and home communion for the sick and homebound.
Accompaniment and field monitoring at coastal shelter camps.
4. STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Complementing immediate relief with a medium- and long-term social reconstruction strategy, Caritas Caracas and the Archdiocese of Caracas held key meetings with diplomatic representatives, including delegates from the Embassy of Italy in Venezuela, representatives from Caritas Internationalis, and partner organizations. These alliances respond to the structural impact of the seismic emergency and internal migration projections, which estimate that 100,000 to 150,000 people from La Guaira state will relocate to the capital city in the coming weeks and months seeking employment, stability, and comprehensive assistance.
Key Pillars of Strategic Reconstruction:
- Medical Centers & Prescription Points: Setup of 4 to 5 centralized prescription points in the capital to ensure the free supply and distribution of essential pharmaceuticals to highly vulnerable areas, linked to new health centers.
- Vocational Workshops & Job Training: Creation of technical trade training spaces—such as carpentry, masonry, and related skills—designed to provide tools for workforce reintegration and self-sufficiency.
- Community Dining Network: Implementation of a sustainable food program for a full year, serving 10 strategic locations across the capital to provide weekday lunches to 100 individuals per center.
Strategic summit with international partners, diplomatic representatives, and Church leaders.
5. PERSISTENCE AMID CRISIS: AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
As weeks pass since the double earthquake, conditions on the ground bring us to a complex and critical phase: prolonged accompaniment. Although the immediate tragedy no longer dominates major headlines, severe vulnerabilities remain in affected communities. The response period has not ended; instead, we are entering a phase where consistency and pastoral presence are essential to prevent the suffering of hundreds of families from being forgotten.
In this context, we observe with concern a sharp decline in donations and emergency supplies. Initial humanitarian aid has decreased significantly, reducing resources at our collection centers. Nevertheless, La Santa Cruz Parish and Caritas Caracas continue their efforts uninterrupted. Aware that needs for food, healthcare, and shelter persist, we continue to adapt our strategies to maximize every resource and ensure aid to those affected remains continuous.
In response to shortages, our mission doubles its efforts by reaching out directly to supporters. We continue appealing to social conscience, seeking solidarity from private institutions, sister parishes, local businesses, and individuals of goodwill. Every effort allows us to restore hope to a struggling home, sustain daily food distribution, provide medical supplies, and offer emotional support in temporary shelters. We remain committed because behind every statistic are real people, stories, and lives that deserve dignity.
On-site meal delivery and logistical coordination for first responders and affected residents.
Comprehensive accompaniment for disaster survivors requires recognizing that recovery is not only physical, but deeply human and spiritual. Healing the social trauma of home loss and uncertainty requires a constant presence of care and faith. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to stand by the community as long as families remain in need. The Church, through its missionaries and volunteers, remains alongside its people, turning limited resources into dedicated service, active listening, and organized charity.
Looking ahead to the coming months, we renew our call to service with the conviction that solidarity is a journey of resilience and faith. We invite all of society to remain steadfast, care for those in need, and continue working alongside La Santa Cruz Parish and Caritas Caracas in this ongoing effort of relief, comfort, and community rebuilding.
Bro. Deiby Fuenmayor MSC