Venezuela aids 879,000 people as Ecuadorian consular support follows major earthquake

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 879,000 Venezuelan citizens accessed essential services such as health, nutrition and food security up to May 2026. Women and girls made up 62% of beneficiaries. Assistance was coordinated by 101 humanitarian organisations, including 59 national and local entities, with the states of Zulia, Bolívar and Sucre receiving the largest share. The response mobilised US$99.8 million, representing 15.8% of the annual humanitarian plan, and an additional US$3 million was allocated to the Sucre state to address a local water emergency. The United Nations continues to keep its global fundraising platform open to sustain the aid.

Following a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.1‑7.5 that struck central coastal Venezuela, Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility activated priority assistance channels for Ecuadorian nationals in the country. A dedicated emergency WhatsApp (+593 984241667) and consular phone lines in Bogotá were provided, alongside cooperation with the International Organization for Migration, the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNHCR. The ministry also kept its 24‑hour virtual assistant available for consular queries.