Aid agencies provide essentials in Venezuela, as locals complain about lack of government response

(4 Jul 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS La Guaira, Venezuela- 03 Jul 2026 1. Various activists from World Central Kitchen delivering food to refugees 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Luis Jose Fernandez, director of Response at World Central Kitchen: "It’s unfortunate what’s happening. We stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, but at the same time we want to bring—through the efforts of many local chefs and many people—some comfort and well-being to those who are suffering. What does our contribution to this disaster consist of? We’re mobilizing restaurants, kitchens, and local kitchens… reaching out to suppliers in the food industry and delivering this amount of food to more than 60 locations we’ve set up in La Guaira, Catia la Mar, and Caracas.” 3. Wide shot of a shelter 4. Various of people living in shelters 5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Amarilis Muños, teacher: “Honestly, no—we haven’t gotten anything we’ve asked for. For them (the government) to support us, to help us, no. People from other places have come here to help us, and you can see that for yourself. They’ve even set up portable toilets for us; well, they’ve set them up. They keep the children entertained, and, well, they set up a dining area so we wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable. But well, there may be people who know more, but you know, sometimes talking too much is bad.” 6. Various of people receiving toys and food 7. Various of people camping on the streets STORYLINE: The response from outside groups has been crucial to help the survivors of Venezuela earthquakes currently living in shelters. Amarilis Muños, a 66-year-old teacher affected by the earthquakes, noted a lack of initial support but highlighted the help from private individuals who have set up portable toilets, children’s play areas, and dining areas in the shelters. One of the main organizations on the ground is World Central Kitchen. Luis José Fernández, the NGO’s director of response, explained that they have mobilized local chefs and suppliers to distribute food at more than 60 locations in Caracas, La Guaira, and Catia la Mar, seeking to bring “some kind of comfort and well-being to people who are suffering." The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 have left at least 2,645 dead and 12,666 injured, forcing thousands of victims to rely on international aid and citizen-led initiatives as rescue efforts continue. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported that teams from 33 countries have managed to rescue 6,462 people. Given the scale of the emergency, exacerbated by 890 aftershocks, authorities set up 59 camps. Combined figures from the government and UNHCR estimate more than 15,800 internally displaced people, with some 3,100 families in temporary shelters and thousands spending the night in vehicles or public spaces. AP Video shot by Andry Rincon =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...