Love in Concrete Ways

Emergency in Venezuela, 2026

06 July, 2026 – On 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck northwestern and central Venezuela, leaving behind widespread destruction, loss of life, many injuries and thousands of displaced people. We express our heartfelt solidarity with all Venezuelans and with everyone who has family and friends in the affected regions.

The Economy of Francesco deeply mourns the loss of life and the pain and suffering experienced by the families affected, those who were injured, and all those who are still waiting for news of their loved ones.
At the same time, we have been moved by the many expressions of solidarity, care and fraternity emerging in response to this tragedy. They remind us that, even in moments of profound suffering, hope is sustained through the compassion and commitment of people who choose to stand alongside one another.
Below, we share the testimony of Eveling Sánchez, a member of The Economy of Francesco community and representative in the Foundation’s Assembly, who helps us understand the reality on the ground. She also shares some practical suggestions for those who wish to support the people and communities most affected by this tragedy.

Love in Concrete Ways: Faith and Solidarity Amid the Rubble

Around six o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, June 24th—a national holiday in Venezuela—while we were watching a movie as a family, my mother’s phone went off with a loud, jarring alarm: “Earthquake Alert.” Within three seconds, we began to feel it and ran to find shelter near a column, away from windows and things that could fall. Just as we thought it was finally calming down, thirty-nine seconds later, it intensified.

Few things can truly describe the sheer scale of the movement; it was incredibly difficult to stand. We held onto each other. “Blood of Christ, protect us; mantle of Mary, cover us,” we called out repeatedly. We thought, like so many others, that we were going to die.

Hours later, we learned that two powerful earthquakes had struck, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. This double strike shook the central-northern and central-western regions of the country, leaving behind a tragic loss of life, numerous injuries, and a landscape of severe structural damage that is still being assessed, leaving thousands of people homeless.

As time passed, we began to see the full extent of the devastation left in the wake of the twin disasters: a State of Emergency was declared in the Capital District and in the states of La Guaira, Falcón, Carabobo, Yaracuy, Aragua, Miranda, Trujillo, and Lara, due to severe damage to homes, buildings, basic services, and critical infrastructure.

Tragically, we found out that our cousin and his wife were trapped under the rubble of their apartment building in Caracas. He was showing signs of life, and that evening, one of their neighbors was pulled out alive; we were all filled with hope, closely following the rescue efforts. The next day, when rescuers finally reached him, both he and his wife had passed away.

As of Friday, July 3rd, 2026—eleven days after the twin earthquakes—the official toll released by the Ministry of Communication and Information reports 2,645 fatalities, 12,666 injuries, and 6,462 people rescued. Authorities also count 15,050 people who remain without housing. However, these numbers are expected to rise.

In the face of such a painful situation, I have seen how people rise up to love in concrete ways: some serve, some accompany, and others keep hope alive. Hundreds of national and international rescuers, tons of donations, and thousands of volunteers are giving their absolute best out of love for their neighbor.

I have seen ordinary people pulling animals and survivors from the rubble; I have seen volunteers organizing incoming donations, preparing meals, and registering and organizing data on online platforms so that patients in hospitals can later be reunited with their loved ones. Even the motorcycle drivers—whom I must admit I usually complain about because of how they disrupt traffic—have organized themselves, creating a transport network for donations to reach the hardest-hit areas where other vehicles simply cannot go.

I have also seen others caring for the caregivers; for instance, looking out for the rest, nourishment, and safety of medical personnel and first responders. Others redouble their prayers and listen to those who have suffered the most, offering words of encouragement and advice to safeguard mental health.

As in any crisis, there are also those who turn inward selfishly. I heard reports of individuals attempting to kidnap recently orphaned children, or caught stealing and looting in collapsed buildings. Timely reporting of these evils is also another way of doing immense good. Thank God, these cases have been few.

Being a community inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, many of you have reached out to ask me two questions: “How are you?” and “How can I help?” Thank you for such beautiful readiness to support. Answering your questions, I am physically well, but like most Venezuelans right now, I am grieving. There is so much pain in our souls because we feel every loss as our own; our hearts are heavy. Yet, we are helping however we can, with our hope firmly placed in the Crucified Christ, who is also the Risen Lord.

Bearing in mind that facing this disaster will require time, emergency response, stabilization, and rebuilding, I am deeply grateful to those who, from the very first moment, have stepped forward to help. In the midst of adversity, you show us that we are not alone.

To channel your donations, I highly recommend two specific institutions. The first is guided by the Jesuit community of Venezuela; I personally know several of its members, and they are good, responsible people. The second is Caritas Venezuela, which operates directly within various grassroots parishes in the most affected cities. Both institutions have been actively providing aid from day one. Below, I share the links with additional information:

https://unidosenlamision.org/en/emergencia2026/

https://caritasvenezuela.org/donaciones/

Another way to help is by sharing only truthful and verified information—separating opinions from facts—and finally, but no less importantly, through your continuous and steadfast prayers.

Thank you so very much for your warmth and care.

Eveling