MAIQUETÍA, Venezuela — Thousands of people affected by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 are facing growing difficulties in accessing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services, officials and aid groups report. The twin quakes, which caused widespread destruction in the state of La Guaira, resulted in 3,685 deaths and left many residents struggling to maintain basic living conditions.

In La Guaira, where 190 buildings collapsed and 856 more were damaged, families have resorted to using the Caribbean beaches for bathing and sanitation, with reports of human waste now visible along some stretches of the shoreline. Many residents are living in temporary shelters or outdoors due to the extensive damage to housing infrastructure.

Water storage systems have also been severely affected. Many households previously relied on large plastic tanks to store water delivered intermittently by the state-owned utility. “We always have water in the tank — water reserved — but with the earthquake, most of the tanks in the houses broke,” said 20-year-old Juliani Herrera. She explained that residents now must wait for water tankers to bring supplies in buckets, creating additional uncertainty regarding daily water needs.

Before the earthquakes, some areas had potable water service only once every month or two, complicating relief efforts. In Maiquetía, a city known for hosting Venezuela’s main airport, residents lined up to receive aid packages containing food, potable water, and hygiene supplies including soap, toothbrushes, and cleansing towelettes. Herrera, who sustained scratches during the earthquake, received one of these packages distributed from a makeshift shelter near the beach.

Humanitarian advocates emphasize the urgent need for improved living conditions to prevent outbreaks of disease. Beatriz Ochoa, regional advocacy head for Latin America at the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighted the challenges faced by displaced families living in crowded shelters amid high temperatures and seasonal rains. “I have seen families doing everything they can to maintain dignity in extremely difficult conditions,” she said. “In one temporary shelter, I saw families organizing themselves to keep common spaces clean, including through makeshift toilets and basic waste management arrangements. Their determination is remarkable, but families should not have to shoulder this burden alone.”

Aid organizations continue to call for increased support to meet the urgent water and sanitation needs of the thousands displaced in the wake of the earthquakes, citing the risk of public health crises if conditions do not improve.