Solidarity with the People of Venezuela
Washington, D.C. – CEDA expresses solidarity with the people of Venezuela following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, triggering a new humanitarian emergency. According to official reports, as of today, at least 589 people have lost their lives and more than 2,980 have been injured, while search, rescue, and damage assessment efforts continue. Damage to critical infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, transportation, and essential services will further complicate the humanitarian response in the days ahead.
This emergency comes at a time when Venezuela is already facing a profound humanitarian crisis. According to OCHA, at the beginning of 2026, 7.9 million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian assistance amid economic deterioration, weakened public services, and severe humanitarian funding shortfalls.
CEDA stands with the people of Venezuela and the Venezuelan diaspora. Millions of Venezuelans are experiencing this moment of anguish far from home, trying to contact their families, locate loved ones, and understand the full scale of the disaster.
We reaffirm our commitment to the well-being, dignity, and rights of all those affected. The humanitarian response must be guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, while prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable.
Solidarity requires concrete action. At this critical moment, the most urgent needs include medical supplies, essential medicines, non-perishable food, safe drinking water, emergency shelter, logistical support, and search and rescue equipment. We recognize that resources are already being mobilized; however, we call on the international community to reverse the trend—which began in 2025—of declining humanitarian funding from the United States and Europe.
As part of a responsible humanitarian response, we echo the call of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and urge the Trump administration to halt deportations to Venezuela and to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans already living in the United States.
It is also essential to guarantee timely and unrestricted access to reliable information. People need to know where to find shelter, how to locate family members inside and outside the country, and which organizations are providing humanitarian assistance. We join the call of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela urging the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) to fully restore access to social media platforms and independent media. In an emergency of this magnitude, access to information can save lives.
See our list of ways to help. CEDA will continue to share reliable information with our partners and through our social media channels to help direct humanitarian assistance and connect affected communities with available resources in Venezuela.
Follow CEDA on social media for real-time updates. If you are able to support the humanitarian response in Venezuela, please share this statement and consider supporting verified humanitarian organizations working on the ground.
