Venezuela’s twin earthquakes: Hope, humanity and solidarity after the disaster

Just after 18:00 on 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured 7.2 in magnitude. The second, a devastating 7.5. Both were shallow quakes, which increased the likelihood of severe damage and loss of life.

For families caught in their path, life changed in an instant. This was a moment for something simple but profound: solidarity. Today, we are all Venezuelans.

The earthquakes struck near Morón, west of Caracas. The United States Geological Survey warned that the death count could range from 10,000 to 100,000.

I have worked alongside communities affected by major earthquakes in India, Haiti, Iran, China, Japan, Nepal, and most recently, Myanmar. Every earthquake is different. Every community suffers in its own way.

Yet the rubble always teaches us the same lessons.

Human solidarity saves lives

Disasters remind us that our shared humanity matters more than our differences.

In the aftermath of Nepal's 2015 earthquake, my colleagues in Plan International told me something I have never forgotten: "The disaster is too big for Nepal to face alone." They were right.

No nation should face a catastrophe alone. The humanitarian imperative is simple: people affected by disaster have a right to assistance, and the rest of us have a responsibility to stand with people when they need us most.

Local responders are the real heroes

Long before international aid arrives, local people are already responding. Neighbours dig through rubble. Community volunteers organise rescue efforts. Local authorities coordinate support. Parents search for missing children.

Local communities are always first on the scene and remain long after the cameras leave.

Our role is not to replace them. It is to support them. The strongest humanitarian responses are those that strengthen local leadership, local organisations, and local volunteers who know their communities best.

The danger does not end when the shaking stops

Earthquakes rarely arrive alone.

Aftershocks can continue for days, weeks, or even months. They bring new injuries, new deaths, and fresh trauma. A mother in Haiti told me after the 2010 earthquake: "The aftershocks finished the task the earthquake started."

In Venezuela, the first major earthquake was followed by an even stronger one just moments later. Families had little chance to escape unsafe buildings.

Preparedness, caution, and clear information save lives. Even after the shaking stops, safety must remain the first priority.

Not all wounds are visible

In the first hours after an earthquake, the priorities are clear: search and rescue, emergency medical care, food, water, and shelter.

Every minute matters for people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

But some of the deepest wounds cannot be seen. One common thing I have heard from children and mothers following earthquakes is that children were too frightened to sleep. Mothers described children waking in terror night after night. In Iran and Japan, I witnessed communities struggling with fear long after physical injuries had healed.

The emotional impact of earthquakes can last for years. Caring for the mind should start on day one. That is why safe spaces, temporary learning centres, child-friendly activities, play sessions, psychological first aid and community support are not secondary concerns. They are essential forms of humanitarian assistance.

Protect the most vulnerable

Earthquakes affect everyone, but not equally.

Children, older people, people with disabilities, women and girls often face the greatest risks. For children separated from their families, the dangers multiply. For girls, existing inequalities can quickly become protection risks, including exploitation, abuse, and trafficking.

A true test of humanitarian response is whether we reach those who are hardest to reach.

Children must come first. Especially girls.

Young people are part of the solution

Disasters destroy much, but they can also reveal extraordinary leadership.

Time and again, I have seen young people become volunteers, organisers, educators, and advocates during recovery efforts.

When young people are involved in response and recovery, assistance becomes more relevant, more effective, and more sustainable.

Relief workers who follow football often recall the legendary Dutch football player Johan Cruyff’s famous words: "Every disadvantage has its advantage." While no one would choose a disaster, recovery offers a chance to build safer and stronger – and that begins by giving young people a meaningful role in shaping the response and rebuilding the future of their communities.

Build forward, not just back

Earthquakes do not kill; bad buildings do.

Unsafe schools. Weak infrastructure. Poor housing. Deep inequality. These are the factors that turn natural hazards into human catastrophes.

Consider the difference between earthquakes of similar magnitude in countries with strong building standards and those without. The loss of life is often determined long before the ground begins to shake.

Recovery must therefore address the underlying vulnerabilities that place communities at risk in the first place.

Safer schools. Stronger hospitals and buildings. Better preparedness. Greater protection for children and girls.

That is how we honour those affected and reduce suffering in the future.

As Venezuela begins to assess the full impact of these earthquakes, the world must stand ready to help.

The days ahead will bring stories of loss. But they will also reveal stories of courage, compassion, and resilience. Long after the headlines fade, solidarity must remain.

The author is the Global Humanitarian Director for Plan International