One month after twin earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela, more than 21,000 people remain displaced and living in temporary shelters, thousands of families are still waiting to recover the bodies of missing relatives from beneath collapsed buildings, and humanitarian organizations warn the disaster is evolving into a long-term recovery crisis that could take years to overcome.
More than 5,200 people have died, nearly 17,000 have been injured, and the World Bank estimates the disaster caused $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, making it one of the most destructive natural catastrophes in the country's modern history. Entire neighborhoods remain in ruins, while schools, hospitals, roads, and businesses are still struggling to reopen.
"The first month after a disaster often brings global solidarity and attention. The real test now is whether that support continues after the headlines start to fade," Elena Vicario, the Norwegian Refugee Council's country director in Venezuela, said in a statement.
The earthquakes struck a country already facing years of economic hardship, fragile public services and one of the world's largest migration crises. Instead of moving from emergency response to recovery, aid organizations say many survivors are still fighting for the basics: a roof over their heads, clean drinking water, medical care and answers about missing loved ones.
Although search-and-rescue operations officially ended weeks ago, the search for victims has not.
Across the hardest-hit communities in La Guaira and neighboring states, relatives continue visiting collapsed apartment buildings, temporary morgues and emergency shelters hoping for news. Authorities have never released a definitive nationwide figure for the missing, leaving thousands of families without closure.
For many, the emotional toll has become as overwhelming as the physical destruction. "People are 50% very sensitive and 50% full of rage, lost. They are angry about not finding their family members, about losing everything," José Méndez, a volunteer working at a shelter in La Guaira, told Reuters.
The housing crisis remains one of the country's greatest challenges.
Government figures indicate that nearly 18,000 homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, forcing more than 21,000 people into shelters, schools, sports facilities and temporary camps. Thousands more are staying with relatives after their homes were condemned or demolished.
Aid workers say many of those shelters were never designed for long-term living.
"Families who lost homes, livelihoods, and access to essential services cannot rebuild their lives on short-lived commitments," Vicario said.
The humanitarian needs extend far beyond housing.
Doctors and relief agencies warn that overcrowded shelters, damaged water systems and interruptions to healthcare are creating the conditions for new public health emergencies. Patients with chronic illnesses have struggled to access medications, while children face disruptions to education and routine medical care.
"In the coming weeks, the greatest health risks may stem not only from injuries caused by the earthquakes, but also from disruptions to health services, overcrowded conditions, deficiencies in water and sanitation and reduced access to vaccination and routine healthcare," Pan American Health Organization Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa warned earlier this month.
Children remain among the most vulnerable survivors.
"For children living in temporary shelters, the emergency is far from over," said Liliana Largo, education program manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Many schools remain damaged or are being used as emergency shelters, leaving thousands of students without classrooms.
The international community responded quickly in the days following the disaster, deploying rescue teams, search dogs and emergency supplies from more than 30 countries. But humanitarian organizations say attention has already begun to fade even as needs continue to grow.
"One month on, people affected by the earthquakes are still living with uncertainty every day," Vicario said. "The humanitarian community now faces a choice: sustain the response and help communities recover or allow funding shortfalls to turn this disaster into a longer-term crisis. The world must not look away."
United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher praised the scale of the international response but acknowledged the enormous challenge facing recovery efforts.
"Crises on this scale would be incredibly difficult for anyone to respond to, any government in the world," Fletcher said after visiting affected communities. He noted that more than 30 countries mobilized personnel and assistance during the emergency response.
The economic consequences are expected to last for years.
According to the World Bank, residential buildings accounted for nearly half of all earthquake damage, followed by transportation infrastructure, public buildings and businesses. The institution estimates reconstruction costs could ultimately approach $50 billion once stronger building standards and long-term recovery projects are included.
That burden comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with deep poverty, inflation and the lasting effects of years of economic decline. Before the earthquakes struck, millions of Venezuelans already depended on humanitarian assistance, and nearly eight million had left the country over the past decade.
Now, one month after the ground stopped shaking, many survivors say time has not brought relief.
Across northern Venezuela, cranes continue lifting concrete slabs, demolition crews clear streets still lined with debris, and families return daily to the sites where their homes once stood, hoping for one final answer about a loved one who never came home.
For thousands of Venezuelans, the earthquakes are no longer breaking news. They are now everyday life.
