Fundación Samur psychologist details earthquake relief in Venezuela

María Casado, an emergency psychologist and psychosocial operations technician for Fundación Samur, has detailed the challenges of providing aid following the earthquakes in Venezuela. Returning from the mission in early July, Casado described a chaotic scene in areas such as La Guaira, where entire cities were destroyed and high-rise buildings were severely collapsed.

Casado emphasized that the primary objectives for multidisciplinary teams in such catastrophes include assessing needs, conducting searches, and providing sanitary support, with a specific focus on the well-being of rescue professionals. She noted that effective intervention requires rapid integration into local coordination efforts to manage the volatility of resources and shifting needs during the initial hours of a disaster.