On 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes affected northwestern and central Venezuela. The epicenters of both earthquakes were in Veroes Municipality, west of San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy.
The two earthquakes caused widespread damage across the country, particularly in the capital, Caracas and especially in the state of La Guaira, where 80% of buildings collapsed.
The human cost
According to official government figures, at least 4,829 people died and 16,740 were injured. Tens of thousands were displaced; more than 16,300 people lost their homes, and another 28,300 whose homes were uninhabitable. Tens of thousands remained missing.
CADIS International is coordinating the emergency response for Venezuela alongside the Camillians in the Province of Brazil and CADIS Brazil through the Emergency Fund Drive to raise money needed to buy essential items.
At the same time, CADIS has begun discussions with the sisters of the Misioneras Hijas de la Sagrada Familia de Nazaret (MHSFN), launching a bold initiative to bring hope back to the classroom.
The disaster, which compounded Venezuela’s ongoing socio-economic crisis, completely destroyed over 400 school buildings nationwide. In the absence of coordinated government relief, survivor families have been left stranded in makeshift tents without basic access to clean water, food, or medicine. While local citizens and religious congregations have mobilized to distribute immediate aid, the disruption of education remains a critical threat to the country's youth.
Determined to prevent a prolonged educational emergency, the MHSFN sisters are preparing to reopen their partially damaged school in Caracas this September, even as repairs to the building continue.
To accommodate children from other schools reduced to rubble, the sisters plan to implement a double-shift system:
- Morning Shift: For the school's 400 to 600 regularly enrolled students.
- Afternoon Shift: For displaced students from neighboring communities.
Logistics remain a hurdle. Essential supplies must be trucked in from supermarkets near Valencia’s Arturo Michelena International Airport (now acting as the region's main international entry point, as Caracas's airport has been converted into a relief hub).
For the MHSFN, the main challenge ahead is securing the funds to sustain this double-shift program. However, as September approaches, the sisters remain resolute in their mission to ring the school bell on time, offering Venezuelan children a vital sanctuary of safety, routine, and hope.
The Emergency Fund Program is activated to help us support our mission in the affected areas.
1. BANK TRANSFER
CC: INTESA SANPAOLO s.p.a.
To: FONDAZIONE CAMILLIAN DISASTER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL
IBAN: IT19G0306909606100000144767
BIC/SWIFT Code: BCITITMMXXX
or
CC: BPER
To: CAMILLIAN DISASTER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL - CADIS
IBAN: IT22Q0538703267000049635269
BIC/SWIFT Code: BPMOIT22XXX
2. PAYPAL: Directly through the website https://www.cadisinternational.org/en/come-puoi-aiutarci-dona-ora
3. For US tax resident: you can donate via the St Camillus Foundation and benefit from tax deductions https://stcam.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/stcam/donation.jsp
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