United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PNUD)

--Also available in Spanish-- On 24 June 2026, Venezuela was struck by two consecutive high-magnitude earthquakes in the country’s north-central region, causing irreparable loss of life and profound human suffering. The multidimensional impact on people and communities in La Guaira, Distrito Capital, Miranda, Carabobo, Yaracuy and other areas is under assessment. Affected communities are dealing with grief, injuries, damaged homes, unsafe public spaces and disruptions in basic services such as electricity, water and sanitation. This is exacerbated by health facilities affected by the earthquakes, debris accumulation and the loss of small businesses, informal work and other sources of household income. These communities need a combination between immediate response efforts focused on search and rescue, emergency medical care, evacuations and temporary shelter —and—early recovery support to restore basic functions, reduce risks and begin rebuilding with dignity in a safer and more resilient way. UNDP is mobilizing support and partners to help communities and local authorities move from emergency response to coordinated recovery, putting people at the center. This includes rapid assessments to inform decisions, debris and solid waste management, restoration of community infrastructure and services, recovery of livelihoods and community safety, as well as preparedness for future emergencies. That is why UNDP is joining efforts with renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, building on 24 years of partnership, trust, and sustained support (since 2002) with El Sistema in Venezuela to mobilize support for communities affected by the earthquakes. For more than two decades, UNDP and El Sistema have worked together to promote social inclusion, youth development and a culture of peace through music. Today, you can be part of this shared commitment in helping bring hope and support to families and communities as they begin their path toward recovery. Your contribution can make a difference in building resilient foundations for a prosperous future for all after the earthquakes. An investment for Venezuela's recovery of $25, $75, $250 or $1,000 can support critical resources such as: •  Basic tools or protective equipment for community recovery brigades. •  Safe clean-up, debris removal or restoration of a community space. •  Key repairs, water, sanitation, energy or livelihood recovery support. •  A vulnerable household or community facility to restore basic conditions for recovery. (ES) El 24 de junio de 2026, Venezuela fue sacudida por dos terremotos consecutivos de gran magnitud en la región centro-norte del país, causando una irreparable pérdida de vidas y un profundo sufrimiento humano. El impacto multidimensional sobre las personas y comunidades de La Guaira, Distrito Capital, Miranda, Carabobo, Yaracuy y otras zonas continúa siendo evaluado. Las comunidades afectadas enfrentan duelo, personas heridas, viviendas dañadas, espacios públicos inseguros e interrupciones en servicios esenciales como electricidad, agua y saneamiento. Esta situación se ve agravada por las *afectaciones* a centros de salud, la acumulación de escombros y la pérdida de pequeños negocios, empleos informales y otras fuentes de ingresos familiares. Estas comunidades necesitan una combinación de acciones de respuesta inmediata —centradas en búsqueda y rescate, atención médica de emergencia, evacuaciones y albergues temporales— y apoyo a la recuperación temprana para restablecer funciones básicas, reducir riesgos y reconstruir con dignidad, de manera más segura y resiliente. El PNUD está movilizando apoyo y alianzas para acompañar a las comunidades y a las autoridades locales en la transición de la respuesta de emergencia hacia una recuperación coordinada, poniendo a las personas en el centro. Esto incluye evaluaciones rápidas para orientar la toma de decisiones, gestión de escombros y residuos sólidos, restauración de infraestructura y servicios comunitarios, recuperación de medios de vida y fortalecimiento de la seguridad comunitaria, así como preparación para futuras emergencias. Por ello, el PNUD une esfuerzos con el reconocido director de orquesta venezolano Gustavo Dudamel, sobre la base de 24 años de alianza, confianza y apoyo sostenido (desde 2002) con El Sistema en Venezuela, para movilizar recursos en favor de las comunidades afectadas por los terremotos. Durante más de dos décadas, el PNUD y El Sistema han trabajado conjuntamente para promover la inclusión social, el desarrollo de la juventud y una cultura de paz a través de la música. Hoy, tú también puedes ser parte de este compromiso compartido para llevar esperanza y apoyo a las familias y comunidades que inician su camino hacia la recuperación. Tu contribución puede marcar la diferencia para construir bases más resilientes que permitan un futuro próspero para todas las personas afectadas por los terremotos. Una inversión para la recuperación de Venezuela de USD 25, 75, 250 o 1.000 puede apoyar recursos esenciales como: Herramientas básicas o equipos de protección para brigadas comunitarias de recuperación. Limpieza segura, remoción de escombros o rehabilitación de espacios comunitarios. Reparaciones prioritarias y apoyo para restablecer servicios de agua, saneamiento, energía o medios de vida. El restablecimiento de condiciones básicas de recuperación para un hogar en situación de vulnerabilidad o una instalación comunitaria.

Southern Türkiye is abundant in richly textured monuments and multicultural traditions. This region is the “cradle of human civilization,” containing the birth place of prophets of three world religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – whose adherents have lived in coexistence for centuries. And now the rich cultural heritage that has defined this region is at risk and needs our urgent protection. The catastrophic earthquakes on February 6th in southern Türkiye resulted in the tragic loss of over 50,700 lives and the destruction of more than 313,000 buildings. This disaster left 3.3 million individuals without homes and affected an area of 110,000 sq km across 11 provinces, which is home to a population of 15.6 million." Beyond the immense loss of human life, the earthquakes have also taken a priceless legacy: monuments and traditions that have been central to diverse cultures since antiquity. From archaeological sites of ancient civilizations to restored Ottoman-era marketplaces and arcades still in use, the earthquakes damaged or completely destroyed 3,752 out of 8,444 historical structures across the 11 provinces. In the immediate aftermath, UNDP funded urgent protection to endangered artifacts by providing museum containers and preservation equipment and partnering with the private sector. The restoration of cultural assets is not only vital to Türkiye’s rich cultural mosaic but also crucial for the sustainable development of the region and our shared future. In the face of such devastation, restoring our cultural heritage emerges as a pivotal step towards bringing our communities back, rebuilding lives and restoring livelihoods. By preserving both tangible and intangible heritage, we pave the way for the revival of age-old practices, traditional crafts, and life as it once was. Today, we call upon you to stand with us. Let us unite to save our shared legacy. Your contribution is not just a donation; it is a commitment to bringing the mosaic of civilizations that define our cultural identity back together again. Your donation will support the revival of the region’s cultural heritage and help these communities to actively rebuild and to thrive. Be a part of this global response – donate now and help to build the cornerstone of southern Türkiye’s post-earthquake cultural heritage recovery endeavor to SAVE THE LEGACY.