Venezuela's earthquakes last month devastated communities across La Guaira state, killing thousands and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The disaster compounded an already critical water crisis: many families relied on large storage tanks that shattered in the quakes, whilst some affected areas received piped water only monthly. With homes destroyed or uninhabitable, survivors now shower and use toilet facilities on beaches or improvise sanitation systems in temporary shelters housed in schools and public spaces.

International aid has begun reaching survivors, with the United States distributing boxes containing food, water and hygiene supplies to displaced families. Humanitarian organisations emphasise the urgency of coordinated relief to prevent disease outbreaks, given the density of temporary housing, tropical heat and approaching rains. Venezuelan officials have announced plans to construct earthquake-resistant housing with assistance from local and international companies, though immediate challenges remain for the displaced living under precarious conditions.