Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Venezuelan authorities to take a human-rights centered approach to its disaster response, in the aftermath of the June 2026 earthquakes.

On 24 June 2026, Venezuela was struck by two earthquakes, resulting in the destruction of buildings and infrastructure in highly populated areas, including Caracas. The earthquakes exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis; according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “7.9 million people across Venezuela needed humanitarian support at the start of 2026, driven by economic stagnation, inflation, and strained public services.”

Amnesty International conducted interviews with affected families in Venezuela and collected its own investigations on the situation. Based on its findings, the group found evidence suggesting poor and delayed disaster response alongside limited support provided by the authorities. According to those interviewed, civilians have been forced to improvise tools in search and rescue efforts, or resort to using their “bare hands” to remove rubble. They told Amnesty International that “police, military and intelligence personnel” were deployed for “surveillance and territorial control” as opposed to assisting in rescue efforts.

Amnesty International also found a lack of transparency, such as “no official figures of missing people” being published, and “significant discrepancies in the recorded number of deaths”.  People also told Amnesty International that the lack of transparency has made it difficult to find missing family members and loved ones.

According to UN OCHA, as of August 2026 “nearly 364,000 people affected by the earthquakes have accessed humanitarian assistance”, and Venezuela authorities have reported 6,509 deaths. Amnesty International noted discrepancies in the reported death toll, highlighting that the governor of La Guaira state said the death toll was an estimated 7,265 people.

Notably, the organization highlighted the impact of the Law on Oversight, Regulation, Operation and Financing of Non-Governmental Organizations and Non-profit Social Organization on disaster relief and response. Amnesty International highlighted that “legal and financial obstacles on organizations” have “delayed or even prevented [NGOs] from providing assistance.” Venezuela’s anti-NGO law was introduced in 2024, and allows authorities a “wide discretion” to “deny NGO authorization based on funding source information.”

Amnesty International called on the authorities to “guarantee transparency,” ensure that civilians have access to updated and accurate information, provide support to victims by creating ” a single registry of victims…and access to housing and government support without discrimination,” provide medical care and psychological support, temporary shelters, provide plans for the reconstruction of homes, and repeal the anti-NGO law, among other things.