Venezuela - Meeting Minutes, Earthquake Response, Caracas, June 29, 2026

Content

1. GENERAL SITUATION UPDATES

• Two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale were recorded on June 24; authorities report more than 500 aftershocks.
• Official toll: 
  • 1,450 people dead, 3,150 injured, and more than 12,700 people affected; numbers rising. 
  • 2,501 infrastructure facilities affected.
• Priorities, as reported at the Inter-Cluster Group meeting: Health, Shelter, WASH, and Food (Ready-to-Eat).
• Humanitarian aid: Peru (14 metric tons), UK (2 million pounds), India (36 metric tons); CAF (1 million dollars); IFRC (50 million Swiss francs), CERF (15 million U.S. dollars); U.S. (100 million U.S. dollars). 
• Setup of temporary shelters: Capital District, Miranda, and La Guaira.
• Multiservice shelters in La Guaira: Vargas Sports Complex, César Nieves Stadium (Catia La Mar), and Playa Grande Stadium (temporary).
• Telecommunications: There are no communications in the La Guaira area; connectivity is maintained solely through satellite devices. 

2. LOGISTICAL UPDATES

• Air transport: 
  • Simón Bolívar Airport in Maiquetía (La Guaira): is open solely for receiving humanitarian aid.
  • Arturo Michelena Airport (VLN - Valencia), La Chinita Airport (MAR - Maracaibo), General José Antonio Anzoátegui Airport (BLA - Barcelona), Jacinto Lara Airport (BRM - Barquisimeto), Manuel Carlos Piar (PZO - Puerto Ordaz), and Santiago Mariño (PMV - Porlamar): These airports are operational for domestic and international commercial flights, operating at 100% capacity with variations in flight frequencies, as determined by each airline.
• Ground transportation: 
  • Caracas–La Guaira route: To travel on this route, a permit issued by the government is required, which can be obtained at the Poliedro de Caracas. This permit is mandatory for all vehicles entering the country, with the exception of those belonging to the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is important to note that several partners have reported that the enforcement of this permit requirement varies on a daily basis. Land border crossing in Táchira State (Colombia-Venezuela): State authorities will authorize the movement of vehicles transporting humanitarian aid from the Táchira state border to La Guaira, according to information received from the Local Coordination Forum in Táchira. No details are available regarding the approval process.
• Maritime transport:
  • Port of La Guaira: currently under review by the authorities. Notification of results is pending.
  • Puerto Cabello: Under evaluation, awaiting a decision from the authorities.
• Customs and imports: 
  • The competent authorities are developing the procedures applicable to the import of humanitarian supplies, both for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and for agencies of the United Nations system (UNS). In this context, it should be noted that, prior to the current operation, there were no specific procedures in place for the management and importation of this type of humanitarian supplies; therefore, these processes are new.
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3. UPDATE FROM THE LOGISTICS WORKING GROUP

• Meetings with authorities to advocate for the clarification of protocols for the arrival of humanitarian cargo flights.
• At the request of the authorities, a mechanism is being developed to report the movement of ground loading bound for La Guaira.
• A form will be shared to record organizations’ needs regarding cargo storage and loading. The purpose is to understand the existing demand for these services and gain greater visibility into partners’ plans.
• The list of focal points for the various clusters and working groups will be shared with partners via the registered mailing list.
• Storage: 
  • The Council (Aragua): The World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse is available for the storage of dry cargo, including food and non-food items (NFI), with temperature-controlled storage capacity. It is available to partners as part of the services offered by WFP.
  • La Guaira: There is a 500 m2 storage space designated for dry cargo (food and NFI kits). This facility is available for fast-moving loading or immediate clearing, and its use is offered to partners free of charge.
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4. PARTNER UPDATES

• Security and Mobility in Affected Areas: 
  • There has been an increase in checkpoints along the Caracas–La Guaira highway, as well as mobility restrictions beginning at 8:00 p.m. along this corridor; changes are expected. It is mandatory to carry a valid ID, as well as visible institutional identification (vest, badge, or other distinguishing mark).
• DG-ECHO: reported that a flight from Copenhagen carrying UNICEF and ECHO personnel will arrive at Maiquetía on June 30 at 3:00 a.m. They are also evaluating charter services from Panama. Possibility of establishing a Panama–Venezuela air bridge.
• IOM: Expects four flights carrying medicines to arrive in Maiquetía on June 30. They are awaiting information from authorities regarding the procedures to follow for nationalization. 
• HULO: reported that it has active joint procurement initiatives from Colombia, including WASH, shelter, and food kits, which are available for Venezuela.
• Airlink: is in communication with Copa Airlines, Avianca, American Airlines, and other partners to facilitate the transport of air cargo to Venezuela once the necessary permits are obtained from the authorities.

• UNHCR: reported that it has begun efforts to transport cargo by land across the Cúcuta–Táchira border. However, this option has been ruled out for the time being due to a lack of guarantees regarding the protocols. Plans are in place to transport the cargo by air.

   

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