The UN denounces the forced recruitment of children in the Colombian conflict

Ten days of tireless search

Ten days after the June 24 earthquakes, families in the most affected areas in Venezuela continue to remove debris in the hope of finding their loved ones alive. In La Guaira, the hardest hit region, parents and relatives cling to the possibility that their children may appear under the remains of collapsed buildings.

Pedro Fernández, 50, lost his mother, wife, two daughters, a nephew and his wife’s grandmother at a family kiosk on the beach. “It’s not easy at all, but I have to get up,” he summarizes.

Official figures and climate challenges

The official balance sheet for Friday, July 3, released by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, reported 2,645 deaths and 12,666 injuries. The authorities count 6,462 people rescued alive, 15,050 displaced without housing and 885 buildings damaged, of which 189 completely collapsed. 59 temporary camps have been set up to serve 86,117 families. Since the earthquake, 890 aftershocks have been recorded.

The arrival of Tropical Wave 22 this Saturday could complicate rescue operations. The rains increase the risk of landslides in unstable areas and make working with heavy machinery difficult. In the camps, humidity and possible leaks increase vulnerability to respiratory diseases.

In Aragua, authorities confirmed 15 deaths: 13 of them in the collapse of Tower 4 of the Bosque Lindo residential complex. Rescue efforts continue with canine brigades and volunteers. 843 properties were evaluated; 45 are in critical condition.

Resumption of classes and international aid

School activities remain suspended in the affected areas (La Guaira, Caracas, Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda and Falcón). The Ministry of Education announced that this Monday, July 6, classes will resume in regions without direct damage, with security measures and risk management content. The 2025-2026 school year will conclude on July 31 with discreet events.

International aid continues to arrive from Latin America, Europe, the United States, the UN and the Red Cross, with rescue equipment, food and medical supplies. However, families and volunteers are requesting greater logistical support to accelerate the removal of debris and serve the thousands of displaced people facing reconstruction and inclement weather.

Return of the rescue teams and continuity of aid

The teams of rescuers from Spain, Chile and Mexico began their return to their countries after completing the search tasks in the areas affected by the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that shook northern Venezuela on June 24. The earthquakes, occurring just 39 seconds apart in what is described as a “seismic doublet,” caused hundreds of buildings to collapse, mainly in La Guaira and some areas of Caracas.

Venezuelan authorities and international organizations report thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and a still undetermined number of missing people. Property damage is estimated in the billions of dollars, with tens of thousands of structures affected.

In this transition scenario towards recovery, the firefighters of A Coruña (Spain) have already returned home. The Galician body broadcast images of the game and received thanks from the local population. The second Spanish contingent, which included the Immediate Disaster Response Team (ERICAM), arrived this Saturday in Madrid-Barajas, where it was received by Civil Protection authorities.

Chile coordinated the return of its rescuers aboard an Air Force Boeing 767. The same flight transports a second shipment of assistance: 35,000 doses of vaccines, medical supplies and food, managed by Senapred, the Ministry of Health and other entities, in collaboration with the private sector.

In Mexico, the “Los Topos” team received an emotional farewell at the Valencia airport, Carabobo state. Citizens and local authorities paid tribute to the Mexican rescuers for their professionalism.

Help that keeps coming

As the teams return, the help continues. Uruguay announced that a Hercules plane will depart in the next few hours with donations collected by the population, companies and the resident Venezuelan community. Spain donated a modular field hospital through the AECID, which will be installed this weekend in the Parque del Este in Caracas.

The United States will maintain a prolonged presence to support assistance and debris removal, especially in La Guaira, the most devastated area. American teams are also involved in repairing port infrastructure to facilitate the arrival of supplies.

In total, the international community mobilized more than 3,000 rescuers from dozens of countries, along with canine teams, vehicles and tons of supplies. The UN and the Red Cross have deployed field hospitals. Venezuelan authorities highlighted the value of this solidarity, but sources agree that the needs remain urgent: medical care, shelter, food, drinking water and safe debris removal.

A message from Lampedusa

Pope Leo XIV took advantage of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States to send a clear message: he called on his native country to “welcome, protect and assist immigrants.” The statement came during his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the main entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

“Receiving them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person,” he said in his speech to the United States. The pontiff stressed that the defense of life, a central principle of Catholic doctrine, implies welcoming those fleeing war, persecution or poverty.

Visit to Lampedusa

Leo XIV chose Lampedusa for this commemoration. The island has received more than 7 thousand migrants this year. During the visit, he asked European leaders to adopt a long-term strategy that combines immediate assistance with integration and cooperation policies with countries of origin.

The gesture recalled Francis’ visit in 2013, his first trip outside Rome. Leo XIV laid flowers in the cemetery where migrants who died during the crossing rest and toured the “Gate of Europe”, a monument dedicated to the victims of the Mediterranean. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1,400 people have lost their lives or disappeared this year trying to cross, including 28 minors.

Since his election in May 2025, Leo XIV has made the defense of migrants a central axis of his pontificate.