Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, announced on Monday that by the close of 2026, new homes will be provided for families who lost their residences in the devastating earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 that struck northern Venezuela on June 24. The official death toll has reached 1,719, with 5,034 people injured.
This announcement was made during the establishment of the State Task Force for setting up temporary camps and planning housing construction, as broadcasted on the state channel VTV.
"The Ministry of Housing and Habitat is developing projects to construct homes as quickly as possible. Thousands of solutions will be available before the end of this year. Furthermore, we're in discussions with international experts and organizations providing immediate housing solutions," Rodríguez stated.
Rodríguez also revealed a housing classification system using a three-color semaphore: green for homes that are safe to occupy, yellow for those needing repairs—handled by the Great Mission New Neighborhood, Tricolor Neighborhood—and red for total losses, which will be replaced with new constructions.
Teams of engineers and architects are currently in La Guaira, Miranda, and Caracas to assess the safety of affected buildings. Meanwhile, a fingerprint registration system will be implemented for those entering temporary camps.
"This is a task we must address collectively and immediately without delay, which is why this state task force has been set up," emphasized Rodríguez.
The scale of the housing crisis highlights the disparity between the regime's promises and reality. According to NASA satellite analysis, nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed in Venezuela, while the government officially acknowledges 855 affected buildings, with 189 completely collapsed.
The UNDP estimated direct damages at $6.7 billion, representing 6% of Venezuela's GDP, with potential total impacts ranging from $10.05 billion to $20.1 billion, based on data gathered after the earthquakes.
The United Nations estimates up to 50,000 people missing following the quakes, a stark contrast to the official report of 15,866 affected individuals shared by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly.
Search and rescue operations continue with over 2,741 international specialists from 24 countries, 86 canine teams, and 521 tons of aid have been sent to the country.
Rodríguez noted the arrival of a brigade from Vietnam and Cuban rescuers among the international response, which also includes $150 million in humanitarian aid from the United States.
The June 24 earthquakes are the deadliest Venezuela has experienced in over a century.
Tom Fletcher, the UN's Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned that the organization was already assisting approximately eight million Venezuelans before the quakes, further complicating the response to a disaster of this magnitude.
Frequently Asked Questions About Venezuela's Earthquake Recovery
What is the current status of the housing reconstruction effort in Venezuela?
The government has initiated a plan to construct new homes for those affected by the earthquakes, with projects underway to provide thousands of housing solutions by the end of the year.
How many buildings were damaged or destroyed in the earthquakes?
NASA's satellite analysis indicated that nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, whereas the Venezuelan government officially recognizes 855 affected structures.
How is the international community assisting Venezuela following the earthquakes?
The international response includes over 2,741 specialists from 24 countries, 86 canine teams, and $150 million in humanitarian aid from the United States, along with aid from various other countries.