Venezuela plans 25,000 homes for quake victims, first 200 to be delivered next week

Two magnitude‑7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June, killing 4,333 people, injuring 16,740 and leaving roughly 18,000 families homeless. The government announced a reconstruction program that will build about 25,000 housing units, including temporary single‑family dwellings and new anti‑seismic urban districts. A biometric census of the 94 temporary camps in Caracas, Miranda and La Guaira began on 11 July to assess the exact need. The first 200 homes are slated for delivery next week, and the plan calls for vacating school‑campuses by September‑October so the new school year can start.

International assistance includes 13 field hospitals and medical teams from Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Spain, Qatar and Japan, as well as a Japanese $3.5 million humanitarian package. The United Nations is helping raise funds for prefabricated homes and technical support for anti‑seismic city planning. The government has identified more than 40 suitable sites covering 584 000 m² for low‑rise housing, and is pursuing the release of assets held abroad to finance the effort.