Devastating earthquakes have left nearly 3,000 people dead in Venezuela, while more than 40,000 people remain unaccounted for.
Jesuit Mission Australia has pledged support through our Emergency Action Fund, joining Jesuit Provinces across Asia in supporting a coordinated humanitarian response led through the Xavier Network, a global coalition of 14 Jesuit organisations.
Back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, the most powerful to strike Venezuela in more than 125 years, caused widespread destruction across north central and west central Venezuela. Lower income communities have been among the hardest hit, with many homes, apartment buildings and essential infrastructure destroyed.
Our response
Jesuit partners, including Jesuit Refugee Service Venezuela, Fe y Alegría Venezuela and the Jesuit Province in Venezuela, are already accompanying affected communities. They are providing temporary shelter, essential relief items, protection services and mental health and psychosocial support, while conducting rapid assessments to identify the most urgent humanitarian needs.
“As communities begin the long recovery ahead, we stand with them.”
Helen Forde, CEO, Jesuit Mission
“We share in the pain of the numerous families struck by this tragedy,” the Jesuits in Venezuela said. “Guided by our faith and commitment to human life, we stand in active solidarity with the victims, affected communities and all those working to save lives and accompany the displaced.”
“The scale of this disaster is heartbreaking,” said Jesuit Mission CEO Helen Forde. “Through our Jesuit partners in Venezuela, families are already receiving emergency shelter, relief and protection. As communities begin the long recovery ahead, we stand with them.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Australian community whose generosity enables our local Jesuit partners to respond when disasters like this occur.”
How you can help
Donations to our Emergency Action Fund will support the coordinated Jesuit response in Venezuela, helping provide emergency relief and accompany affected communities as they recover and rebuild.
Jesuit Mission holds the people of Venezuela, our Jesuit partners and all those responding to this tragedy in our prayers.
