Venezuela earthquake: paralysis of basic services and escalation of health risks

Six days after two strong and successive earthquakes occurred in central and northern Venezuela, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported the presence of ‘Major food shortages’ In the state of La Guaira, which is the most affected state.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Wolf said: “Basic services have been disrupted and communications have been largely cut off.” Pointing to the escalation of societal tension as a result of the difficulty of accessing aid. She stressed that a “state of panic” is prevailing among people, who “want to obtain aid as quickly as possible.”

Shelters that lack basic standards

The Commission had conducted a rapid needs assessment last weekend that included the state of La Guaira, the metropolitan area of ​​Caracas, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and Carabobo, and found that half of the people surveyed were staying with neighbors or relatives after the disaster, while nearly four out of every ten people lived “In the streets and public places, while others stay in churches, schools or hastily constructed facilities,” According to Mrs. Wolf.

“These temporary shelters do not meet minimum protection standards, for example, with regard to privacy, safe spaces, basic hygiene and comfort levels,” she added.

The UNHCR spokeswoman also expressed concern about the presence of unaccompanied children or separated from their families, a phenomenon revealed by the evaluation. It also stated that, as of Monday, the Venezuelan authorities had confirmed 1,719 deaths, at least 5,034 people injured, and 15,866 people damaged or displaced.

“Chaos in service provision”

Christian Lindmeier, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said that “health services are currently under enormous pressure,” as the number of injuries resulting from the earthquake exceeds the capacity of health facilities.

Lindemeyer referred to data verified by the organization on Saturday, which included 21 health facilities in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcon, three of which were found to be… “In critical condition” While six of them suffer structural damage or are partially operational, while the remaining facilities continue “She works under a lot of pressure.”

And he said: “Preliminary findings reveal chaos in service provision and patient movement, characterized by overcrowding, a growing backlog of postponed surgeries – particularly in the specialties of trauma, orthopedics and neurosurgery – as well as a breakdown in vital safety measures and severe fatigue experienced by medical staff.”

A World Health Organization spokesman also warned “Critical vulnerabilities” In providing health care, including the collapse of forensic services and mortuaries, as well as deficiencies in registering victims and tracking missing persons.

Increased health risks

Lindmeier confirmed that there is “There is now an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, diphtheria and whooping cough, as well as yellow fever and other vector- and water-borne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Orobuchus and malaria.”

He warned that displaced people face a “high health risk” due to low rates of vaccine coverage before the earthquake and limited access to vaccines at the present time.

He also explained that a number of health care workers in La Guaira were still missing, including officials. “On the entire maternity care pathway in the region,” This has created a critical gap in obstetric care services.