As Venezuela grapples with the aftermath of devastating earthquakes that have claimed approximately 235 lives and injured thousands, the United Nations has seized the opportunity to demand the lifting of national social media restrictions, asserting external control over the nation's information flow during a time of crisis for its people. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in over a century, were centered near Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers west of Caracas, causing widespread destruction.
External Control Amidst Crisis
Shortly after the tremors, United Nations officials in Venezuela called on the government to lift social media restrictions, claiming such access could provide life-saving information. This demand came as Venezuelans in the country were able to access X, a site that had been blocked by then-President Nicolás Maduro since August 2024. Maduro's regime had implemented the block in an attempt to suppress the exchange of information among those who rejected his claim of victory in the July 2024 presidential election. On Thursday, the U.N. human rights mission in Venezuela issued a statement reiterating the call for the government to lift local restrictions on social media, stating that timely access to reliable information can save lives. Sites including X and messaging app Signal were part of the August 2024 block, highlighting a pattern of institutional suppression of dissent that now faces external pressure from globalist bodies.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January this year after the capture and removal from power of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday. Rodríguez announced the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes and appealed to businesses Thursday to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations.
The Cost to the People
Venezuela Health Minister Carlos Alvarado reported late Thursday that the official death toll had risen to around 235, with at least 4,300 people injured. The number of casualties was expected to climb, with thousands reported missing as rescue efforts continued. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that up to 6.76 million people in Venezuela could be affected by the quakes, including some 2 million in Caracas alone. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, observed that “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”
Families across the nation and abroad posted missing-person flyers, photos, and handwritten lists online, utilizing WhatsApp, Facebook, and X to create digital flyers and seek information. Venezuelans abroad struggled to contact relatives due to interrupted phone service within the country. In downtown Caracas, hundreds spent the night huddled in parks, parking lots, and other open spaces. Dayana Delgado, a mother of three, expressed her desperation, stating, “I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” referring to her missing 8-year-old son. Cristian Carreño in La Guaira lamented, “I lost everything,” adding, “There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn’t get out. It’s incredibly devastating.”
Globalist Intervention
In response to the disaster, some 1,000 emergency responders in 25 search-and-rescue teams from across the globe were deploying to Venezuela, according to Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke to Rodríguez, announced immediate U.S. assistance, describing it as a “whole-of-government response” that would be “big; it’ll be fast; and it’ll be effective.” This international deployment occurred despite the closure of Venezuela’s main airport near Caracas due to damage, complicating logistical efforts.
Venezuelan public television showed the arrival of rescuers with dogs and equipment, including cameras and ground-penetrating radar, from Spain. Teams from Chile and Switzerland also landed, and three military transport planes from Germany with personnel and aid were en route. Turkey announced two flights would depart Istanbul with rescuers and search dogs. China also pledged assistance, while leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Portugal, and Canada vowed to send help. Rescue teams from El Salvador and the Dominican Republic arrived on Thursday, along with rescuers and material aid from Mexico. Dominican air force Maj. Carlos Olivares commented, “No country is prepared to provide the response that’s needed. That’s what neighboring countries are there for,” underscoring the perceived necessity of a broad, transnational response to a national catastrophe.