Venezuela crisis deepens a month after June 24 earthquakes

One month after twin earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela, the nation is confronting a protracted humanitarian crisis and staggering economic damage, with thousands of families still searching for missing relatives and more than 21,000 people living in temporary shelters. The earthquakes, which struck on June 24, have killed more than 5,000 people and injured nearly 17,000, according to official figures.

The disaster's epicenter was north of the capital, Caracas, with the coastal state of La Guaira and parts of the capital itself suffering the most concentrated physical damage. Entire neighborhoods remain in ruins, and critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, roads, and the main runway at Simón Bolívar International Airport, was severely impacted. While search-and-rescue operations have officially concluded, the grim task of recovering bodies from collapsed buildings continues, leaving many families without closure.

Humanitarian organizations warn that the emergency is evolving into a long-term recovery challenge that could take years to overcome. A spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that immediate...