How to help survivors of the Venezuela earthquakes

When a disaster like this hits, most of us want to help right away. The harder question is how you can help to make sure your money goes the furthest and actually gets to those in need. GiveDirectly has launched a response to the Venezuela earthquakes to get aid to those in need quickly. 

Two earthquakes hit Venezuela, the largest since 1900

On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes hit northwestern and central Venezuela within seconds of each other, a 7.2 followed by a 7.5. They were the strongest the country has recorded since 1900. La Guaira was hit hardest and has been declared a disaster zone, and buildings came down in the capital, Caracas. More than 900 people have been confirmed dead and over 3,000 injured, with thousands still unaccounted for. Those numbers are still climbing as rescue crews dig through the rubble.

The timing is cruel. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans already needed humanitarian aid before the earthquakes, public services were stretched thin, and the country’s UN relief appeal was one of the worst-funded in the world. Survivors now need shelter, clean water, medicine, food, and a way to earn again, and what each family needs most varies house to house.

Why to send money, not supplies

It feels natural to gather clothes, canned food, or bottled water and donate them after a disaster. In most disasters that does more harm than good. But donated goods take weeks to arrive, are expensive to transport, and rarely match what people actually need in the moment. Sending cash is more direct. A family can spend it on exactly what’s urgent for them, whether that’s a tarp, antibiotics, or food to feed their family. And every dollar spent locally then helps Venezuelan shops get back on their feet. Cash is proven to be at least 25% more cost-effective than in-kind aid. Researchers have also consistently found that people in crisis make good decisions with money. 

Choosing a good cause

When a disaster makes headlines, it’s tempting to give to the first appeal you see. It’s worth pausing to think about where your gift will do the most good. Immediate relief matters, but so do deeper needs. Many Venezuelan families were living in poverty long before the earthquakes, and the recovery will stretch on for months. The strongest causes address both the emergency in front of people and their longer climb back to stability. It also helps to look for the places your money goes furthest. Underfunded crises and overlooked communities are often where an extra dollar changes the most.

How to pick a charity

Once you’ve settled on a cause, a few checks will help you find an organization that uses your gift well.

1. Is the approach backed by evidence?

Some kinds of aid have been studied carefully and others have not. Cash transfers are among the most rigorously tested tools in global development, with strong, repeated results for nutrition, health, and household income. Favor organizations whose methods rest on real evidence rather than good intentions alone.

2. How fast does help arrive?

In the first days after an earthquake, speed saves livelihoods. Look for how quickly an organization actually gets aid to people. For some orgs it takes weeks or months before recipients of aid start to see the benefits. Mobile and digital cash payments can reach families within days.

3. How much reaches survivors?

You want as much of your gift as possible in the hands of the people it’s meant for. Good organizations are open about their overhead and publish their results, so you can see where the money goes. Be cautious with groups that won’t say. 

4. Is it legitimate?

Disasters draw scammers along with genuine helpers. Stick to established organizations with a verifiable track record and a real presence in the region, and read their public reporting on websites like Charity Navigator. Be wary of unsolicited appeals, lookalike names, and social media scams.

Why GiveDirectly sends cash

GiveDirectly sends donations straight to people living in poverty and to families hit by disaster, with no conditions attached. Since 2009 we’ve delivered over $1 billion to more than 2 million people, using mobile payments to move money quickly and keeping our overhead low so most of every dollar reaches the people who need it. Independent researchers have studied our work for more than a decade. We give cash because the people living through this crisis know what they need far better than we do.

Donate now to help support survivors of the Venezuela earthquakes.