On the ground: Inside the humanitarian response to Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes
On the ground: Inside the humanitarian response to Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes
On emergency deployment to Venezuela, Nina Zelic joins a team of humanitarians from UNHCR and partner organizations responding to the June earthquakes.
Nina Zelic brings more than two decades of humanitarian and legal expertise in forced displacement, nearly 10 years within UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Based in the United States, she is currently in Venezuela as part of UNHCR’s Emergency Response Team, coordinating the delivery of critical aid and services to communities devastated by the June earthquakes.
In this interview, Nina shares an inside look at the humanitarian response in Venezuela.
What is the situation in Venezuela following the recent earthquakes?
On June 24, Venezuela was hit by back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to the government of Venezuela, over 6,000 people lost their lives and nearly 6,500 have been rescued. These earthquakes have affected deeply a lot of people and recovery is just beginning, for all the communities, including returnees and refugees.
Today, there are a total of 107 transitional camps set up by the authorities sheltering people whose homes were damaged or destroyed; some receive support from UN agencies. UNHCR has been responding from day one, providing support and delivering humanitarian assistance to people in dire need, as part of the government-led response.
My focus is on coordinating UNHCR’s protection response in four transitional sites in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state which lies to the north of the capital Caracas. The camps provide shelter and services to about 2,500 people, but they also serve neighboring local communities who have been impacted. Here, people receive protection and medical services, food, and other support.
What is UNHCR’s role in the humanitarian response? How do you identify and evaluate the most vulnerable?
UNHCR has been in Venezuela since 1991, and has offices in Caracas, Maracaibo, and San Cristóbal. Over the last 35 years, UNHCR’s longstanding work in Venezuela has made our staff well placed to support the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes as part of the collaborative UN humanitarian response.
UNHCR leads the Protection Cluster, which coordinates among UN agencies and civil society organizations protection activities. In the four transitional camps where most of my work has been focused, this means a one-stop-shop approach that provides integrated protection services, such as accurate information and counselling, legal assistance, mental health and psychosocial support, documentation support, and referrals to specialized services. Along with our partners, we have delivered such services to thousands of people, with a focus on women and children.
During emergencies, one way we identify the most vulnerable is through protection monitoring. This involves speaking with impacted people and collecting data to see what help is most needed. In the first few days following the earthquakes, we conducted a rapid assessment to understand who was receiving assistance, how many people were being helped, their profiles, and most pressing needs.
Over the past few weeks, UNHCR has also assisted Venezuelans in the transitional camps who have returned from other countries such as Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, and other Latin American countries.
What is your role in the day-to-day humanitarian response?
The scale of this emergency requires coordination, problem solving, and effective communication. In my work coordinating teams, I am in the camps, working and meeting with partners and colleagues to look at what trends are changing and if we need to adjust our work.
Many people lost their documentation following the earthquake. My work ensures that people have identification documents, which are critically important to access employment, housing, school, and more. The government is leading the process for people to receive new national identification cards, and we are supporting this effort through our partners.
I also spend time with survivors, including children and women, to identify other needs, including those of psychosocial nature, to ensure they receive help quickly. Since day one, I have been working alongside the most incredible colleagues, most of whom are Venezuelan, working on the frontlines despite their personal impact.
What has been the greatest challenge?
The lack of adequate resources is one of our greatest challenges. Our financial requirements for Venezuela are underfunded, with $44.7 million needed but only 16% funded. That includes around $15 million to scale up protection services, core relief items such as solar lanterns, jerry cans, mosquito nets and community-based protection activities. It's critical that we use our limited resources in the most targeted, efficient, and impactful way to help survivors with the most basic humanitarian support.
Are there other organizations on the ground helping to respond in Venezuela? Why are partnerships important in humanitarian crises?
Our work would not be possible without partners who coordinate shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, health, and nutrition. We work closely with many organizations, including other UN agencies, international and local NGOs.
Our local partnerships have been vital. Their expertise working with local communities and authorities is essential, helping to communicate with impacted people, and building trust. Our partners are in the camps with us every day focusing on protection, documentation and psychosocial support, especially with adolescents and children born abroad who have some of the greatest needs.
What do you most want people outside of Venezuela to understand about this situation?
Almost two months following the earthquakes, the response is now turning to the recovery phase and a long-term vision to help people start to think about what's next. Signs of recovery are emerging. In response to these challenges, UNHCR is expanding its focus to meet ongoing needs, particularly for those living outside the four camps.
The earthquakes in Venezuela impacted so many people’s lives. Just yesterday I sat down with a man who lost his three children and wife, and he had come to one of the camps for medical care, but he also was able to receive immediate psychosocial support through UNHCR’s partner.
The impact of losing so many loved ones at once is not something that you can quickly recover from. Most people, even amid uncertainty and incredible loss, are full of hope, strength and drive to carry on. Not only community leaders, but also survivors, who look to the future with conviction. There is still a need to support Venezuelans, including those who have returned and then were impacted by the earthquakes, particularly now as recovery begins.
What is the best way someone can help?
If you aren't familiar with our work, I encourage you to learn more by following UNHCR Venezuela’s social media handles, share with family and friends, and of course, donate. Together, we can help people get back on their feet.
