What we're doing to help children and their families in Venezuela
Page last updated 7th of August 2026
Our teams and partners began responding in the affected areas within 24 hours of the earthquakes.
So far, the UK public has raised over £15 million for the DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, including £2 million matched by the UK Government through UK Aid Match.
Alongside local partners, we've already reached more than 21,555 people - including 7,986 women, 3,957 men, 5,238 girls and 4,374 boys - through safe spaces for children, mobile health clinics, and by distributing menstrual hygiene kits and support kits for families with disabled members. But with the scale of destruction still becoming clear, we need to reach many more.
Your donation will help us to provide children and their families with the urgent support they need to survive, stay safe and begin to recover:
- Child protection and emotional support – safe spaces where children can learn and play, psychological first aid, and support to help keep children safe from harm
- Healthcare - lifesaving medical supplies and treatment as well as support to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks
- Food and nutrition - emergency food supplies and treatment for malnutrition for children and families who have lost access to food and cooking facilities
- Clean water - safe drinking water, hydration points and secure water storage to help prevent disease
- Hygiene and cleaning kits - soap, sanitary products and other essential items to help families stay clean, healthy and reduce the risk of disease
- Education - temporary learning spaces and teaching materials, helping children to stay safe, regain a sense of normality, and continue learning after the disaster.
Meet Carlos*
Photo: Edwin Corona Ramos / Shelter For Kids
"In the future, I would like to help people in need and make sure they lack nothing." - Carlos*, 13
Carlos was at home when the devastating earthquakes hit. He fell, but quickly got back up and grabbed onto a nearby plant until the ground stopped shaking.
Disasters like these impact so much of a child's life: their health, their safety, their wellbeing and their education. Carlos hasn't been able to go back to school since the earthquakes struck.
Now he comes to a safe space set up by our teams and partners in Venezuela: a space where he - and children like him - can play, learn and build hope for the future.
This safe space exists thanks to the support of people like you.
We're aiming to reach 350,000 people, including 200,000 children, in these crucial first few months.
That’s only possible thanks to the generosity of people like you, helping us protect children who need it most - today, tomorrow and always.
Donate now to help children affected by disasters like this - in Venezuela and around the world.
One month on: "My mind is constantly on alert"
The 24th of July marks one month since the earthquakes tore through Venezuela. For families like Heriberto's, the shaking may have stopped, but the fear hasn't.
Heriberto*, 7, was playing with friends when the ground began to move. "I felt the tremor, I ran away and I don't know, like I was falling," he says. He's since been hit by falling concrete and lived through a tsunami alert that sent his family running for the car. Despite it all, he still dreams of becoming a footballer and a pilot.
His mother's generation carries a different weight. Marcela*, 33, says the earthquake has left her living on constant high alert. "My mind is constantly on alert. A motorcycle alerts, a dog barks, alert. I must protect my daughter," she says. Her own four-year-old, Emma*, now rarely leaves her side and tells everyone she meets that "my house broke down."
This is why our safe spaces matter so much right now. They give children like Heriberto and Emma somewhere to play, learn hygiene practices, and simply be children again - while giving mothers like Marcela a moment to catch their breath.
One month in, the need is only growing. Your donation today could help us reach more families before the rainy season makes things even harder.
Marcela* (33) and her daughter Emma* (4) sit at their tent Miguel Vera/ Shelter For Kids
Together, we can be there for children who need it most. Donate now to help children in Venezuela and around the world.
What's happening in Venezuela?
Two devastating earthquakes ripped through Venezuela on 24 June.
The massive earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, left thousands of children homeless, hungry and terrified. And right now, children and families sheltering outside are facing a new disaster due to powerful rainy season storms.
More than 6,125 people are reported dead (as of 4 August 2026), with 16,740 injured and 17,907 people having lost their homes.
Imagine being a child in this situation. Your home collapsing around you in a matter of seconds. Being forced to flee for your life. Your world torn apart, overnight.
The damage has cut off communications and power in some areas, so the extent of the destruction is still becoming clear. But we know from experience that children will need urgent support to access shelter, food, water and healthcare now.
In any emergency, children are always the most vulnerable. It’s vital we act fast to save lives. 
Your questions answered
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What caused the Venezuela earthquake?
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Venezuela sits on a network of active fault lines, making it prone to seismic activity. The 24th of June earthquake was caused by movement along the Boconó-Morón-El Pilar Fault System, a complex boundary where the Caribbean and South American plates collide, triggering widespread destruction across affected regions.
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Is Venezuela prone to earthquakes?
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Yes. Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone in northern South America. The country has experienced significant earthquakes historically, and communities - particularly children - often lack the resources to recover quickly.
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When did the Venezuela earthquake happen?
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The earthquake struck on the 24th of June 2026. Shelter For Kids's teams were mobilised immediately to reach children and families in the worst-affected areas.
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What was the situation in Venezuela before the earthquake?
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Venezuela is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. Years of economic collapse, hyperinflation, and climate‑related disasters have pushed millions of families to the brink. Basic services like healthcare, education, clean water, and protection have deteriorated dramatically, and many parents can no longer meet even their children’s most fundamental needs.
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How is Shelter For Kids responding to the Venezuela earthquake?
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We began responding within 24 hours of the earthquakes. Working with partners, we're there ready to provide healthcare, child protection support, shelter and food - prioritising children facing the greatest risks, such as those with disabilities or living in overcrowded shelters.
Every donation helps us reach more children.
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How does Shelter For Kids help children affected by earthquakes?
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We've been responding to earthquakes around the world for years, making sure children and families have the emergency relief and long-term support they need to rebuild their lives. Find out more about how we help when an earthquake strikes.
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What work was Shelter For Kids already doing in Venezuela?
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We've been working with local partners in Venezuela since 2018, making sure children get the support they need. We focus on:
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene: fixing sanitation systems in schools, such as building toilets and washrooms
- Health: providing community healthcare and basic medical care
- Nutrition: screening for malnutrition in communities and supporting caregivers with breastfeeding
- Child Protection: promoting the well-being of children and teenagers through learning activities, child-friendly spaces, mindfulness practices in schools and communities, and mental health support
- Education: providing educational kits, training teachers, and coordinating with educators and community partners to help students catch up on their learning and support their return to school.
Since 2020 we've reached more than 276,000 people, including over 150,000 children. Find out more about our work in Venezuela.
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Why are monthly donations important?
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Both monthly and single donations matter. But monthly donations mean we can plan ahead, investing in long-term solutions and bigger projects - so children affected by disasters can get the sustainable and ongoing support they need. Monthly givers also reduce our administrative costs, meaning more of your money reaches children.
Families are clutching what few belongings they managed to save, children are in the open streets too scared to return to their destroyed homes which are unsafe. The safety of children is a serious concern and our top priority.
Fatima Andraca, Country Director Shelter For Kids in Venezuela
*names changed to keep children safe
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