Urgent Action: Tell the Venezuelan authorities to protect earthquake victims
35 days left to demand change
A devastating series of earthquakes hit Venezuela on 24 June, leaving thousands of people killed, injured, displaced, unhoused or otherwise affected. Their rights must be protected.
When the 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes hit northern Venezuela, they mainly affected densely populated areas like La Guaira, Caracas, Carabobo, Falcón, Aragua, Miranda, and Yaracuy.
On 29 June, it was declared that at least 1,719 people had been killed, 5,000 injured and 15,000 displaced from their homes due to the devastation. With thousands reportedly still missing and aftershocks still being felt, the toll is expected to keep rising.
When a catastrophic natural disaster occurs, human rights become more important than ever and Venezuela is no exception. The earthquakes come off the back of a decades-long humanitarian emergency, systematic repression of dissent, and a collapsed health system:
- At a time when the free flow of information is vital to relief efforts, years of state-sponsored censorship, social media blackouts and restrictions on the activities of journalists and NGOs are likely to hamper the humanitarian response. These restrictions must be urgently lifted to save lives.
- In recent years, Venezuela has systematically criminalised journalists, dissenters and human rights defenders. However, its emergency response plan must be impartial and independent. It is vital that those providing humanitarian assistance do not discriminate against anyone in need.
- In times of crisis, the most vulnerable in society – including children and older people – often fall victim to added discrimination and marginalisation. Amnesty International has sadly already received reports of children allegedly suffering grave human rights violations in the wake of this disaster. Special steps must be taken by the authorities to protect vulnerable groups as part of the relief effort.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation in full solidarity with the Venezuelan people and are calling on our supporters to put pressure on the Venezuelan government to protect the rights of all those tragically affected by this disaster.
Sign our petition today to demand that the Venezuelan authorities' relief operations be guided by human rights law and that steps be taken to protect the freedom of the press and the most vulnerable in Venezuelan society.
A devastating series of earthquakes hit Venezuela on 24 June, leaving thousands of people killed, injured, displaced, unhoused or otherwise affected. Their rights must be protected.
When the 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes hit northern Venezuela, they mainly affected densely populated areas like La Guaira, Caracas, Carabobo, Falcón, Aragua, Miranda, and Yaracuy.
On 29 June, it was declared that at least 1,719 people had been killed, 5,000 injured and 15,000 displaced from their homes due to the devastation. With thousands reportedly still missing and aftershocks still being felt, the toll is expected to keep rising.
When a catastrophic natural disaster occurs, human rights become more important than ever and Venezuela is no exception. The earthquakes come off the back of a decades-long humanitarian emergency, systematic repression of dissent, and a collapsed health system:
- At a time when the free flow of information is vital to relief efforts, years of state-sponsored censorship, social media blackouts and restrictions on the activities of journalists and NGOs are likely to hamper the humanitarian response. These restrictions must be urgently lifted to save lives.
- In recent years, Venezuela has systematically criminalised journalists, dissenters and human rights defenders. However, its emergency response plan must be impartial and independent. It is vital that those providing humanitarian assistance do not discriminate against anyone in need.
- In times of crisis, the most vulnerable in society – including children and older people – often fall victim to added discrimination and marginalisation. Amnesty International has sadly already received reports of children allegedly suffering grave human rights violations in the wake of this disaster. Special steps must be taken by the authorities to protect vulnerable groups as part of the relief effort.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation in full solidarity with the Venezuelan people and are calling on our supporters to put pressure on the Venezuelan government to protect the rights of all those tragically affected by this disaster.
Sign our petition today to demand that the Venezuelan authorities' relief operations be guided by human rights law and that steps be taken to protect the freedom of the press and the most vulnerable in Venezuelan society.