Venezuela earthquake - audio update

The MSF teams are constantly assessing where they can be most helpful in order to respond in a timely manner. We currently maintain a permanent mobile clinic team in Playa Verde, La Guaira state, and in the centre of Caracas, while other mobile clinic teams provide assistance in various affected areas, like Catia La Mar and Naiguatá.

The teams are primarily treating cases of diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, and skin conditions. At the same time, we are moving forward with a water, sanitation, and hygiene strategy to prevent the outbreak of diseases, facilitate access to safe water, and install showers and toilets that allow people to live in dignified conditions. We also continue to observe significant needs among people staying in shelters, so we are continually assessing how to adapt our response to the evolving emergency.

In Venezuela, teams are now monitoring for waterborne diseases as well as mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. To reduce these risks, MSF teams are assessing water sources, sanitation conditions, and disease surveillance needs in affected areas. Activities may include water trucking, chlorination of water supplies, emergency latrines, hygiene kit distributions, and regular mobile clinic visits to shelters and gathering sites.

So far, MSF has distributed emergency trauma kits and medical supplies to treat nearly 10,000 people injured in the earthquakes.

Additionally, MSF has donated 8.5 tons of medications, medical equipment, and sanitation supplies to support overwhelmed healthcare structures.