In brief
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast last Wednesday, leaving thousands homeless and in desperate need of shelter. BBC journalist Will Grant visited a makeshift refuge under a baseball stadium in the town of Catia la Mar, where survivors are sleeping outdoors or in makeshift tents while awaiting official assistance. The displaced residents are hopeful that authorities will soon provide temporary accommodation, but for now rely on donated food and clothing from local communities and aid agencies. The situation illustrates the urgent need for disaster relief coordination and highlights the resilience of communities facing natural calamities.
On Wednesday morning, two massive earthquakes rattled the northern coast of Venezuela, shattering homes and flattening neighborhoods in towns like Catia la Mar. The violent aftershocks left thousands without shelter, and emergency services struggled to keep pace with the sudden spike in displacement.
In the throes of this crisis, BBC reporter Will Grant was taken to a makeshift shelter that had sprung up under a local baseball stadium. Surrounded by stacks of plastic tarps and hastily erected tents, the building became a haven for dozens of survivors who would otherwise have had to sleep on the streets for fear of the relentless cold.
“We’re all holes, hoping that the authorities will give us a place to stay,” one resident told Grant, her voice trembling as she pointed to the cracked concrete floor. “We’ve been living in our own field of blankets, but we still need proper food, clean water and an actual place to rest.”
The makeshift shelter continues to be a stopgap measure. From a cramped oval court to the rundown stands, it has become a reluctant haven for people holding onto hope. Rescue teams and NGOs are still scrambling to mobilize adequate resources, and the local government has yet to announce a concrete plan for temporary accommodation.
Survivors largely depend on donated food and clothing from neighbors and charity workers. While the community’s resilience has been commendable, with volunteers setting up makeshift kitchens and a clean water station, the long-term provision of basic amenities remains uncertain.
According to local authorities, the biggest obstacles are both logistical and political. The scarcity of funds, coupled with the absence of an emergency plan for mass displacement, means that many families might remain without proper shelter for weeks. International aid agencies are called upon to step in promptly, or the crisis could deepen as supplies dwindle.