LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — A month has passed since earthquakes shook Venezuela and killed thousands, but the state of La Guaira still feels like a distant memory, reports BritPanorama.
In residential areas, remnants of familiarity have given way to destruction. Buildings once recognized by long-time residents now stand as grave markers of loss. Many individuals have lost their homes and are now dependent on donated tents for shelter.
At the Brisas de Maiquetía housing development, located opposite Caracas’ international airport, survivors express shattered hopes. The housing complex, established under the Great Housing Mission initiated by former President Hugo Chávez in 2011, now presents a grim reality. As families inhabit tents below the skeletal remains of their homes, local resident Ray Cazorla describes a deteriorating situation, citing scarce aid and unfulfilled promises of recovery.
“International aid is not being allowed to pass through here or it is not actually arriving […] I saw publications showing a truck here with international boxes that were never delivered, it was a lie,” Cazorla explained.
The internal conditions of these tents exacerbate an already dire environment. High temperatures and humidity force families to rig fans to power poles, relying on self-installed wiring. Initially, residents tented outside, but were later ordered back to the complex after a government inspection by interim governor Delcy Rodríguez on July 15.
Within the tents, families struggle, crowded atop bunk beds. Essential items like refrigerators and stoves must be salvaged from their flats, with many fearing structural instability after the earthquake. “One of the towers has a broken main beam,” Cazorla stated, voicing his distrust in assurances from engineers who have downplayed the damage to the structures.
In addition, sources of drinking water remain distant. Drinking water tanks with inadequate filtration, provided by external humanitarian organizations, fail to meet the community’s needs, forcing residents to rely on unclean water sourced from the street for non-drinkable purposes. “Every day we feel more alone. The first day the government arrived with a huge crowd, a real commotion…but they disappeared afterwards,” he lamented.
The Venezuelan interim government has suggested a return to their apartments by March 2027, a timeline that has been met with widespread skepticism and resignation. “We’re going to be here for several months; we’re all living on the floor because nobody wants to leave their apartment for fear of having their few valuables stolen,” shared one resident.
Community members have taken measures to make their makeshift shelters feel more homely, while also grappling with rising crime rates. Looting has become a common threat, exacerbating feelings of insecurity, even amid state patrols.
10 showers for 600 families
Brisas de Maiquetía houses over 3,000 individuals, with only 10 public showers available to service families, many of which have become unusable due to neglect. A young couple from the area has undertaken repairs but face challenges keeping the facilities supplied with water. “Now there’s no water because the children come unsupervised and use up the whole tank,” they noted.
Alongside these hygiene issues, fears of disease outbreaks loom, especially given the unsanitary conditions reported in the area. Cazorla has warned of stagnant water creating breeding grounds for mosquitos and other pests. “The situation is very delicate because there are children. They haven’t even cleared the rubble,” he mentioned.
Rebuild what was broken
The personal tales of loss resonate deeply in this community. Carlos, a resident of the first floor, has lost everything, stating that costly renovations prior to the earthquake are now useless. “I had just remodeled the apartment. Now I’ve lost all of that,” he lamented.
While some structural assessments have been conducted, many residents allege that the response has been inadequate, with significant portions of the complex remaining unaddressed. “Officials came to take pictures and then left. They built two walls, and both collapsed,” criticized resident Andrea Debur.
As aid remains sparse, frustrations have mounted. What once seemed like a temporary hurdle has transformed into an extended crisis, much of which the community feels has been ignored. As the autumn approaches, the pressing needs for basic services continue to multiply, and the residents of Brisas de Maiquetía have expressed one clear demand: help from both their government and the international community.
In this landscape of devastation, people hope they won’t be forgotten amid the rubble and chaos, yet the echoes of their plea resonate into an uncertain future.
