LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Illnesses linked to overcrowded shelters, disrupted medical services and poor access to clean water are increasing across communities affected by last month's devastating earthquakes in northern Venezuela, placing additional strain on an already fragile health system as humanitarian agencies expand emergency operations.
Medical teams and aid organizations reported rising cases of diarrheal disease, skin infections and interruptions in treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension among thousands of displaced residents living in temporary shelters, tent settlements and public buildings following the June 24 earthquakes.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization's regional office, said health authorities were intensifying disease surveillance while deploying emergency medical teams, medicines and field hospitals to reduce the risk of outbreaks. PAHO said damaged hospitals, shortages of medical supplies and overcrowded facilities continued to hamper treatment in the hardest-hit areas, particularly La Guaira.
According to PAHO assessments, several health facilities remain only partially operational because of structural damage and limited capacity. Hospitals are facing surgical backlogs, infection-control challenges and shortages of essential medicines while attempting to restore routine services alongside emergency care.
Aid groups said many displaced families continue to live in crowded conditions where sanitation infrastructure and reliable drinking water remain inadequate, increasing the likelihood of communicable diseases. Public health officials have prioritized water, sanitation and hygiene measures, vaccination efforts and continued monitoring to prevent larger outbreaks.
The United Nations has appealed for hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to support millions of people affected by the disaster, while PAHO has launched a separate appeal to finance health services, disease prevention, essential medicines and recovery of damaged healthcare facilities over the coming months.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck north-central Venezuela within seconds of each other on June 24, causing widespread destruction across several states, with La Guaira among the worst affected. Authorities have reported thousands of deaths and injuries, although casualty figures have continued to change as assessments progress.
Humanitarian organizations said mobile clinics, field hospitals and community health teams remain focused on expanding access to primary healthcare while restoring treatment for patients whose regular medical services were interrupted by the disaster. Officials said disease surveillance and emergency health operations will continue as recovery efforts move into a longer-term phase.
