UNICEF emergency appeal for Venezuela

UNICEF Aotearoa launched an appeal to support the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on 24 June.  The impact and scale of the devastation has hit very close to home for me, both physically and emotionally and I welcome your support of my efforts to bring some relief to the people of Venezuela.  The need remains.

On 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within less than a minute of each other, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. The earthquakes affected communities in Caracas and the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Falcón, La Guaira and Miranda, among nearby areas. UNICEF is continuing to monitor the situation and assess the impact on children and families, read more at the link below:

UNICEF is already in action on the ground and a charter flight carrying humanitarian supplies for children and families has landed in Valencia, Venezuela.

The shipment, sent from UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama, includes essential medical and emergency health kits to support continuity of care, personal protective equipment for health workers, collapsible water storage and distribution tanks to help restore access to safe drinking water, and thousands of hygiene kits for affected families.

However, unfortunately, this is only the beginning.  As the days and weeks unfold the scale of devastation and support needed by the people of Venezuela will become clearer.

In this regard, I would really love the opportunity for us to have a chat about how we could work together on this and I shall be grateful if you will share details with your congregation, friends and colleagues  about how they can support the people of Venezuela.

The earthquakes have created urgent humanitarian needs across multiple sectors. Immediate priorities include emergency healthcare and nutrition support, safe water and sanitation services, child protection, psychosocial support for children and caregivers, and temporary learning spaces to help children continue their education. UNICEF is working with authorities and partners to assess needs and deliver life-saving assistance to children and families in the most affected areas.