Venezuela - Meeting Minutes, Earthquake Response, Caracas, July 9, 2026

Content

1. GENERAL SITUATION UPDATES

• According to official figures, the death toll stands at 3,342, with 16,740 injured. Official casualty figures (as of July 5, 2026): 3,342 deaths, 16,740 injuries, and more than 17,907 people affected have been reported.
• Regarding temporary camps, there are currently 87 active camps housing approximately 16,800 people. Caracas has 39 camps, La Guaira has 26, and Miranda has 22.

2. LOGISTICAL UPDATES

Customs

• The GTL has been in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify certain aspects related to customs procedures. Following a meeting with the Directorate of Diplomatic Immunities, Privileges, and Exemptions, it was confirmed that the procedure for processing diplomatic exemptions remains unchanged from the provisions in effect prior to the earthquake.
• For international organisations already accredited by the Venezuelan government, the process is handled through the Casa Amarilla Antonio José de Sucre, in the Department of Immunities and Diplomacy, by submitting an application for diplomatic exemptions in accordance with the established requirements.
• The required documentation includes:
  • Diplomatic Exemption Application Form with a description of the loading and the organization 
  • A Note Verbale addressed to the Directorate of Immunities and Privileges, describing the loading
  • Credentials and identification of the organization’s authorized representative
  • Tax Information Registration (RIF), 
  • Airway bill (may be a draft)
  • Packing List with details of the goods to be imported (weight, number of packages, description of the loading, among others).
• The information regarding the characteristics and description of the loading must be consistent across the duty exemption application, the verbal note, and the packing list. It is essential that these documents contain matching information.
• The application must be submitted in a brown, legal-size folder containing 5 sets of all documents.  
• At the time of the meeting, the reported office hours were Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
• In the case of organizations that are not accredited or are not eligible for accreditation, they may only benefit from this process through collaboration with already accredited organizations. 
• In the absence of a specific customs regime or simplified procedure for the importation of humanitarian aid, humanitarian organizations must process the entry of goods into the country in accordance with standard import procedures. In this context, the GTL, in coordination with the IMPACCT Working Group, is developing a guidance document intended to facilitate understanding of the requirements, formalities, and procedures currently applicable to the importation of goods for humanitarian purposes.

Arrivals at Maiquetía

• Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía) remains the main point of entry for humanitarian air cargo intended for the emergency response. 
• Today, the first flight of the airlift organized by the United States in collaboration with Amazon and Airlink will arrive at CCS. The GTL, as part of its standard logistics services, is available to partners to assist with the receipt and transport of cargo (upon request through the SRF). 
• Several organizations have indicated that after the aircraft land, the loading is transferred to Ramp 4/Presidential Hangar, where it subsequently becomes the responsibility of the receiving organization for pickup and transport. 
• The unloading process depends on how the flight was organized. On commercial or charter flights, unloading is typically handled by contracted loading operators.
• If the final destination or receiving warehouse is not clearly specified at the time of shipment, the loading may end up being temporarily stored at Ramp 4/Presidential Hangar, requiring subsequent coordination for its pickup. 
• The Logistics Working Group noted that it offers free transportation and temporary storage services, with the aim of contributing to more efficient loading management and preventing congestion at the airport or loading being held up due to recipients’ lack of logistics capacity. 
• One partner asked whether Maiquetía Airport (CCS) could be used for shipments of supplies related to programs not connected to the earthquake emergency. This is a point that needs to be clarified. The GTL is also monitoring the potential effects that the future reopening of the airport’s parallel runway for commercial operations might have on humanitarian operations.

Report on Land Transport

• There is a specific form for reporting the movement of humanitarian loading by land to La Guaira.
• The information must be submitted at least one day before the shipment, with a cutoff time of 7:00 p.m.
• Detailed information on the loading (weight and dimensions) is required, as well as information on the driver and the vehicle (name, ID number, license plate, model, color, and year).
• The information is consolidated and shared with OCHA and the Resident Coordinator for transmission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a Verbal Note, in order to facilitate access and avoid complications during transport.
• More information here

Air Transport Report 

• The process consists of three parallel steps: 

1. Handling import and customs procedures (including duty exemptions where applicable).
2. Obtain flight authorization from INAC (typically handled by the airline).
3. Complete the air shipment form, attaching the flight permit and the air waybill/packing list.

• The deadline for reporting flights is 3:00 p.m. on the day before arrival. 
• The information is consolidated into a matrix that is shared with OCHA, and the Resident Coordinator communicates it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a Verbal Note to facilitate the entry of humanitarian cargo.
• It was recommended to report movements as soon as possible to ensure that the authorities have visibility into the operation and to facilitate logistical coordination.
• It was also noted that the Working Group is monitoring all humanitarian flights and that organizations can contact the team if they need assistance completing the forms, providing retroactive information on flights that have already landed, or managing the reports.
• More information here

3. SHARED LOGISTICS SERVICES

Partners were reminded of the logistics services available free of charge through the Logistics Working Group to support the earthquake response.

• Services currently available include:
  • Transportation. From La Guaira, Miranda, the Capital District, Aragua, and Carabobo to the GTL warehouses in La Guaira. 
  • Temporary storage, including temperature-controlled storage spaces in La Guaira
• It was explained that these services aim to prevent congestion at airports and ports, as well as provide additional capacity to organizations with logistical limitations.
• Members were invited to discuss specific needs that might require solutions different from the standard services available. The GTL is continuously monitoring these needs in order to adapt the available logistics solutions
• For more information on the services:
  • Refer to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
  • Service requests are submitted via the Service Request Form (SRF) (link to instructions)
  • All inquiries regarding the services can be sent to Venezuela.clustercargo@wfp.org 

4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

• The Telecommunications Coordinator presented a summary of the activities carried out in this area. 
• Infrastructure Installation: Electrical systems with solar panels and UPS backup were installed in Playa Grande and César Nieves, enabling the operation of Starlink systems for connectivity.
• Internet Solutions: Meetings were held with CONATEL, Luxembourg.lu, and the local provider G Network to implement hybrid connectivity solutions, including fiber optics and transmission antennas, prioritizing areas such as Caraballeda.
• Coverage and Limitations: Areas with good cellular signal were identified, as well as areas with signal interruptions; the new infrastructure will allow for data usage filtering and improved bandwidth for the affected population.
• The main objective is to provide free internet access and facilitate communications in the affected areas.
• For inquiries regarding telecommunications, members may contact Francisco Castillo (francisco.castillo@wfp.org)

5. RESOURCES

Members were reminded of the available resources:

• LogIE for information related to infrastructure. Various modules of the system provide access to the GTL Concept of Operations, information on connectivity in the affected areas, ETC.
• The GTL’s dedicated emergency website, which contains all relevant links and documents. The website features an integrated machine translation system that allows users to view GTL documents in English and other languages.
• On the website, you can find the forms for ground and air mobilization, as well as the registration form to receive communications related to the GTL.

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