Earthquakes in Venezuela: health system is under pressure, chaotic and overcrowded, says WHO

Busy hospital in Venezuela treats patients even in parking lot after earthquake
Venezuela's healthcare system is under severe pressure, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, with some hospitals damaged and others without staff following last week's deadly earthquakes.
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More than 1,700 people have died and 5,000 have been injured after hundreds of buildings were destroyed or damaged by the tremors consecutive magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
At least three health facilities are seriously damaged and another six are damaged or only partially functioning, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said at a press conference in Geneva.
"The rest remain operational (but) under severe pressure," he said, referring to a survey of 21 health facilities. "Preliminary findings reveal chaotic service delivery and disorganized patient flow, marked by overcrowding and an increasing backlog of surgeries," he added.
Several health professionals specializing in maternal care in the La Guaira region remain missing, he said, creating what he called a critical gap in obstetric care.
The thousands of people displaced by the earthquakes are also at risk of outbreaks of diseases such as yellow fever and dengue, especially due to relatively low vaccination coverage, he said.
Thousands of dead and injured in historic earthquakes
The number of deaths from the double earthquake that hit Venezuela rose to 1,719, according to a report released at 3pm this Monday (29) by the Venezuelan government.
The number of injured is 5,034 and there are 15,866 people outside their homes. The government also says that 22,619 people received treatment in hospitals for injuries. The balance is provisional and these numbers tend to increase.
➡ On Wednesday night (24), two earthquakes in a row hit the northern region of the country, where Caracas is located. In addition to the deaths, the tremors collapsed buildings and left a trail of destruction in the Venezuelan capital and surrounding areas. The earthquakes were the strongest in the country in more than 100 years.
A projection by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations (UN) estimated that more than 6 million people may have been affected by the tremors.
The entity also estimates that 50,000 people may be missing in total.
The worst-hit places are on the coast of the eastern portion of the country, with La Guaira being the city that suffered the most damage. The disaster region also includes Caracas and Maiquetía, where Simón Bolívar International Airport is located, the country's main gateway, which remains closed until further notice. Other international airports, such as Valencia, have reopened.

Source: G1