Venezuela: Three-year-old rescued and taken to hospital six days after quake

Rescue efforts took place after the first three-day period immediately after the earthquake; Experts say that people trapped under the rubble have the highest chance of being found alive during this period.

La Guaira is one of the most affected areas; many local people are trying to carry out rescue efforts on their own.

Food shortages are widespread in La Guaira, basic services have broken down and communications have been largely cut off, the UN Refugee Agency said on Tuesday.

“Tensions in society are increasing as access to assistance is limited,” UNHCR said in a statement on its website. he said.

Daniela Armas, an 18-year-old vendor in La Guaira who was injured when she fell off a motorcycle during the earthquake, told AFP that some supplies had been distributed “but sometimes people almost kill each other for food… it’s like cockfighting.”

UNHCR said it needed $15 million initially to “increase support for protection, basic relief supplies and temporary shelter for 30,000 people affected by the earthquake for six months.”

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said health services were under “extreme pressure”.

“The risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria is now increasing due to low vaccination coverage,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.