The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday warned that Venezuela’s healthcare system is under severe pressure following last week’s twin earthquakes that damaged hospitals, disrupted medical services and left several healthcare workers missing.
According to the UN health agency, more than 1,700 people have been confirmed dead, while about 5,000 others were injured after the back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, flattened or damaged hundreds of buildings.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva that at least three health facilities were destroyed, while six others sustained damage or were operating only partially.
“The remaining facilities are operational but under significant strain,” Lindmeier said, citing preliminary findings from an assessment of 21 health facilities in the affected areas.
He said the assessment revealed severe disruptions to healthcare delivery, with overcrowded facilities, disorganised patient flow and a growing backlog of surgical cases.
“Preliminary findings reveal chaotic service delivery and patient flow, marked by overcrowding and growing surgical backlogs,” he said.
Lindmeier also said several maternity healthcare workers in La Guaira remain missing, creating what he described as a “critical gap” in obstetric care.
He further warned that thousands of people displaced by the earthquakes face an increased risk of disease outbreaks, including yellow fever and dengue, due to low immunisation coverage.
“The thousands of people displaced by the quakes are also at risk of disease outbreaks like yellow fever and dengue, especially given relatively low vaccination coverage,” he said.
