“We were getting ready to watch the Brazil game when the alarms started sounding.”

Oneida lived in Tower 8 of Ciudad Caribia, one of the buildings severely damaged by the recent earthquake in central Venezuela. When the shaking began, her family’s first priority was protecting her two granddaughters, who were sleeping in their rooms. Her husband held one of the girls as he struggled to remain standing, while her son-in-law shielded the other as the force of the earthquake repeatedly threw him against a wall.

Then came a second, even stronger tremor. Walls cracked, objects fell and concrete filled the building with the sound of destruction. When the family tried to escape, their usual evacuation routes were blocked by rubble and broken pipes flooding the hallways. Neighbours worked together to break through jammed doors and create new paths to safety.

Since the earthquake, Oneida says her community has been living through what they call “Hora Cero” (Hour Zero). Losing their homes was only the beginning. Families now face intense heat, rainy nights, limited access to drinking water and inadequate sanitation. Flies and mosquitoes have become a growing concern, while many families also need essentials such as insect repellent, sunscreen and medication for chronic conditions.

ADRA Venezuela has deployed its humanitarian response team to Ciudad Caribia, providing urgent support to affected families. As part of its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) response, ADRA is distributing hygiene and family kits, water purification tablets and water containers to help families meet basic needs and access safer water. These supplies help protect health, preserve dignity and support families as they begin the difficult journey toward recovery.

Despite everything she has endured, Oneida says the support reminds her community that “we are not alone.” As the emergency continues, ADRA Venezuela remains on the ground, working alongside families to provide timely assistance and help them begin rebuilding their lives. The generosity of donors like you helps provide essential supplies, restore dignity and bring hope to families’ like Oneida’s who are facing unimaginable loss.