Venezuela Emergency 2026
In all Love and Serve. The Jesuit Caribbean's response to the Venezuela earthquake
On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, two strong seismic events, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, shook the central-northern and central-western strip of Venezuela. Within minutes, the country changed: collapsed homes, interrupted basic services, and entire families in the street, unaware of what had happened to their neighbors or their houses. The National Government declared a State of Emergency in the Capital District and in the states of La Guaira, Falcón, Carabobo, Yaracuy, Aragua, Miranda, Trujillo, and Lara. The state of La Guaira was declared a disaster zone: nearly 70,000 families affected, Maiquetía International Airport with severe damage and suspended flights, and entire sectors—Playa Grande, Catia La Mar, Tanaguarena, Los Corales, Macuto—cut off from communication. In Caracas, three buildings collapsed in Los Palos Grandes, and severe cracks appeared in La Castellana, Chacao, El Paraíso, and San Bernardino. The first official report, published on the evening of June 25, already spoke of 235 deaths, 4,300 injuries, and 55,293 people reported missing, of whom contact had not been made with 39,587.
Venezuela does not walk alone
The Society of Jesus in Venezuela was quick to react. True to the Emergency Response Protocol of CPAL - the Conference of Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean - it activated an Immediate Response Team with a clear task: to map the needs of its works and communities, coordinate with allies and donors, and organize the reception and distribution of aid. The earthquake itself had also struck the Society: ten religious communities reported damage, several churches had serious structural issues, and Fe y Alegría schools in Caracas suffered damage. Despite this, two collection centers were opened in the capital – the headquarters of the Javier Center, in La Castellana, and the UCAB, Montalbán campus – to begin receiving water, food, hygiene supplies, first-aid materials, and rescue tools.
The Caribbean stands up
From the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean Province responded to the call of its sister province. Under the leadership of the Montalvo Center, collection points were activated in four cities across the country: in Santo Domingo, the Santísima Trinidad University Parish and the Pedro Francisco Bonó Higher Institute; in Santiago de los Caballeros, the San Roberto Bellarmino Center; in San Cristóbal, the Loyola Polytechnic Institute; and in Dajabón, the Montalvo Center's own office. All opened their doors from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to receive donations throughout that week and the following one. The first stage of the collection deliberately focused on two items prioritized for their medical and nutritional urgency: electrolytes and canned goods. In parallel, the Caribbean Province coordinated with national and international ecclesial networks—including Caritas—to channel the shipment of aid to Venezuelan territory, adding its logistical capacity to that of the Venezuela Province, which remained at the forefront of direct implementation alongside the affected communities.
A look that goes beyond the emergency
“From our faith and commitment to life, we express our closeness and active solidarity. Our vision goes beyond the emergency: every intervention will seek to leave capacities installed in the people,” stated Alfredo Infante SJ, provincial of the Society of Jesus in Venezuela. This phrase summarizes the spirit of the entire operation: it's not just about sending supplies, but about accompanying communities in their recovery and strengthening their capacity to respond to future risks. Under the motto that guides the entire Company—To Love and Serve in All Things—the joint response from Venezuela and the Caribbean shows that, even when struck, the Jesuit network is sustained by the mutual closeness between sister provinces.
How to collaborate
Those who wish to contribute financially can do so through the accounts enabled by the Unidos en la Misión foundation:
International Account (Miami) — TD Bank N.A. Beneficiary: Unidos en la Misión Foundation Inc. · Account: 4444945244 · ABA/Routing: 031101266 · SWIFT/BIC: NRTHUS33XXX · Memo: Emergency 2026.
National Accounts (Venezuela) - Banco Venezolano de Crédito. Beneficiary: Unidos en la Misión A.C. · RIF: J 502256741 · Account: 0104-0107-12-0107216723.
For inquiries or to send support: donate@unidosenlamision.org.
Company of Jesus · Caribbean Province · June 2026
