From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister McEntee and Minister Richmond announce €1 million for Venezuela earthquake relief - 30 June 2026

Ireland will provide €1 million to support relief efforts following the recent devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond have announced.

The funding will be provided to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide physical and psychological first aid, conduct damage assessments and provide ongoing medical support.

Announcing the funding, Minister McEntee said:

“The earthquakes have devastated people’s homes and critical infrastructure, including hospitals. It is vital that efforts to get medical care to injured people are supported. There is a significant international response underway to help survivors. Ireland’s contribution will help the IFRC to reach 300,000 people with medical and other humanitarian support. This support will be directed to people who have lost their homes and those who require urgent medical care.”

“The scenes in Venezuela following the earthquakes are heart-breaking. People are in need of urgent medical care in a situation where hospitals and critical infrastructure has been badly damaged. People in the affected areas will have to rebuild their homes and lives, while grieving for loved ones. Ireland’s support will help to ensure people receive vital aid at a time when their lives have been shattered.”

Two major earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela on June 24th. Approximately 1,700 people are known to have died in the earthquakes, with up to nine million people affected.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an appeal to support its relief efforts.

The IFRC Appeal will support the Venezuelan Red Cross to assist 300,000 people affected by the earthquakes and their secondary impacts. The initial operational focus will be on the worst affected areas of La Guaira and Greater Caracas. The operation will also support other affected states, including Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and Falcon, where needs may become clearer as access, communications, and assessments improve.

Ireland has also recently provided €1 million to Venezuela Humanitarian Fund, which is managed by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is coordinating the overall UN response to the earthquake, including the rapid deployment of Urban Search and Rescue Teams from across the international community.

This is in addition to Ireland’s contribution to global humanitarian pooled funds, such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which are responding to the crisis.