In brief
In the aftermath of twin magnitude‑7.5 quakes that struck Venezuela, a Jordanian search team rescued a three‑year‑old boy named Klieber Morán, bringing him to a Caracas hospital six days later. The rescue has drawn praise from Venezuelan officials and offers a beacon of hope as UN agencies report pressing food, shelter and medical shortages in La Guaira. Damage totals nearly 59,000 buildings, with more than 10,000 injured and thousands still missing. International aid, including a 47‑tonne freight of medical supplies, is arriving to support relief. Local communities face rising tensions over scarce resources amid long‑term displacement.
A three‑year‑old boy named Klieber Morán was pulled alive from the rubble of collapsed homes in La Guaira, a state in Venezuela, six days after twin mountain‑undercalling earthquakes. Jordanian rescue teams, working in partnership with local volunteers, staged an emotional un‑burial as the toddler was finally freed, brought to a Caracas hospital for first‑aid and treatment.
The event was hailed by Venezuelan officials, with Interim President Delcy Rodríguez calling it a “moment of hope” amidst the nationwide disaster. Officials say the ongoing search continues, with international aid‑workers from the US, Mexico and dozens of other nations deploying specialised dogs, heavy machinery and drones to sift through the debris.
Official figures put the death toll from the quakes at 1,943, with more than 10,000 wounded and tens of thousands missing. NASA satellite data estimate that around 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving vast numbers of families homeless.
United Nations agencies report that food, shelter and communication services are severely disrupted, especially in La Guaira. The UNHCR says community tensions are rising as people struggle for limited relief supplies, a situation that could trigger violent clashes without longer‑term aid.
The World Health Organization warns that hurricanes of vaccine‑preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria could erupt due to disrupted immunisation programmes. Large shipments of medical kits, including supplies for safe births and newborn care, are already arriving, and the UN has called for a $15 million uplift to scale up core relief items for 30,000 affected people over the next six months.
Local residents continue to bury the dead, and many mourn the loss of loved ones they have yet to find. In La Guaira’s makeshift morgue, families wait for the identification of remains, underscoring the heartbreaking personal toll of the disaster.
