Caring for Venezuela Earthquake Victims in Jesus’ Name
Maritza’s family was huddled around the television, thrilled to be watching the World Cup, when her sister received an alert on her phone: “Earthquake, earthquake, earthquake.”
Then, the walls started to crack. The ceiling caved in. Everything shook. It felt like the earth was giving way.
“The dirt started falling all over us. It just kept going—it didn’t stop, didn’t stop, didn’t stop,” Maritza said. “When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see anything. Dust was everywhere.”
Maritza realised that the rubble she was trapped in had, only moments before, been her walls and ceiling. Her home.
Maritza was injured when temblors hit, destroying her apartment.
The roof of the eight-story building was in pieces on the sidewalk. The remnants of her apartment unit now sat in the basement parking lot. She knew she was injured. As she attempted to move among the heap of ruins she felt the sharp pain of broken bones.
Maritza had several broken bones and knew she needed medical attention, but the hospitals were overwhelmed with hundreds of other earthquake victims. Her hope was restored when she heard that Samaritan’s Purse had set up an Emergency Field Hospital near the coast in La Guaira.
Since opening on June 30, our field hospital has seen more than 700 patients and performed dozens of surgeries. Patients like Maritza are experiencing the love of Jesus Christ as our medical staff care for them in His Name.
Providing Physical and Spiritual Healing
When she arrived, Maritza cried tears of joy as she was welcomed by our staff and learnt that our surgeons would be able to operate on her wrist and put her injured leg in a cast—at no cost to her. She was overwhelmed with gratitude as they listened to her story and prayed with her.
Maritza required orthopaedic surgery at our Emergency Field Hospital. Other medical facilities were overwhelmed by injured survivors.
“All of them take care of you, and they pray for you. From the moment you walk in, you can already tell they truly work with love,” Maritza said.
Our medical team is joyfully coming alongside patients like Maritza to meet their medical needs. Most importantly, we seek to care for their spiritual wounds by telling them about the Lord Jesus Christ.
“We get to share the love and hope we have in Jesus Christ,” said nurse Kelly Arroyo. “We get to tell them that there’s a God who knows them, sees them, and has not forgotten them.”
Maritza came to the field hospital distraught by what had happened to her city. She was able to walk out hopeful and encouraged.
Hope Restored
For two days after the quake, a man named Juan sat in utter darkness. Sharp pain shot through his ribs. He could feel the bruises that covered his body. Yet Juan grieved for another reason.
Just moments before the earthquake, and before he found himself tumbling through the debris from the fifth floor to the basement, Juan had been in his apartment celebrating his father’s birthday.
“He’s dead,” Juan said. “He was going to be 100 years old.”
Juan was rushed to a local hospital after rescuers pulled him from the rubble. He waited for five hours but could not be seen by physicians because of the high volume of patients needing help.
Juan was relieved when he arrived at our Emergency Field Hospital and learnt that we could provide treatment. Our staff stitched up the cuts on his legs, prayed over him, and shared the eternal hope of the Gospel.
“I’m very happy for all the help that Samaritan’s Purse gave to me,” Juan said. “You are helping all my Venezuelan brothers here, and I love you.”
Juan came to our hospital beaten up after tumbling with debris from his fifth floor apartment. He was stuck in the dark for two days, grieving the death of his father whose birthday he’d been celebrating the day of the quakes.
Juan was grateful to receive treatment provided with such kindness.
Providing Emergency Relief
In addition to medical care, our teams are providing temporary shelter tents for families who have lost everything.
“These are not typical pop-up tents. They weigh 125 pounds each, and they are resolute. These things will take storms; they will take the wear and tear of families living in them,” said Jon Stone, senior programmes specialist. “We’re sending teams out to help construct them. They’re giving people a safe place to live.”
Samaritan's Purse teams continue to provide for Venezuelans both through medical care and with supplies such as heavy duty tents, shelter supplies, and clean water in a city with thousands displaced from their homes.
Through local partner churches we have provided shelter materials, solar lights, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and blankets to hundreds of families. Churches are caring for both physical and spiritual needs as they share the Good News of Christ with families in desperate need.
“Can hope, faith, and goodness come out of a disaster? The answer is absolutely. People have lost everything, and they are calling out to God,” Jon said.
Please pray for our team as they continue to walk alongside victims of these devastating earthquakes. Pray that more Venezuelans will come to know Christ, and that they will connect with one of the many local churches ready to disciple and encourage them.
Support Venezuela Response
is enough to provide four blankets for a family who lost their home in the earthquake.
can cover one outpatient visit at our Emergency Field Hospital.
makes a significant contribution towards a water filtration unit that supplies thousands of litres of clean water each day.
