“They’re flinching at the slightest noise” – Children’s mental wellbeing at stake two weeks after devastating Venezuela earthquakes
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Caracas (July 9, 2026) – Children are showing signs of mental distress in the wake of last month’s devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, with parents and psychologists reporting children flinching at the slightest noise, finding it difficult to sleep, and showing more signs of irritability and aggression.
Children who have undergone such stressful experiences will often show their stress through behavior changes and need support to recover.
Save the Children has established safe spaces for children within the earthquake zone where families can bring their children to play and regain a sense of normalcy and strengthen their resilience, while also being assessed for more severe psychosocial distress or other protection concerns.
Counsellors at these spaces have reported some children are showing signs of acute distress, including anger, while children as young as seven or eight are saying they are scared of what the future holds. Some parents have told our staff that their children now become anxious when they see the cracks in the ground, while others are struggling to sleep at night and are flinching when they hear loud sounds such as rumbles of thunder.
Some older children told Save the Children staff that they had to protect and rescue younger family members while they escaped from the earthquake, despite feeling deeply scared themselves, and continue to carry this anxiety with them.
Around 1.8 million people including about 680,000 children have been impacted by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela two weeks ago, many of whom witnessed their friends and family members die before their eyes, with mental and health and psychosocial support identified by the UN and NGOs as one of the key needs facing affected people.[1]
Children who have experienced extremely distressing events are at risk of long-lasting impacts for months or even years to come, Save the Children said.
Two-year-old Daisy* was with her parents when the earthquake struck their home in Caracas. When Daisy stopped eating after the earthquake, her mother Yusmary*, 24, brought her to Save the Children’s mobile health clinic, run by local partner Paluz. Yusmary said that Daisy will now only breastfeed for comfort and will only eat a few spoonfuls of solid food if she is extremely hungry
Yusmary said: “Before the earthquake, Daisy] used to eat normally, just fine. But after the earthquake, she became like this. When she sees cracks on the floor, she starts crying and screaming. Then she calls me and says, “Mom, look at the floor!”
Isabel*, a psychologist working with Save the Children said: “In our safe spaces where children come to play and receive support, we are seeing children who are scared about what the future holds. They are telling us things such as ‘my parents worked so hard to have a house, and now we have nothing.’ Children as young as seven or eight are deeply worried about how they’re going to rebuild their lives.
“Our safe spaces allow children to express themselves in a safe and supportive environment which is vital since some children are telling our teams that they are reluctant to express their fears at home, as they see their parents and caregivers upset and worried”.
Fatima Andraca, Save the Children’s Country Director in Venezuela said:
“Many children in Venezuela have experienced extremely distressing events that no child should ever have to see. They have witnessed their friends and family members die before their eyes, while others continue to live with the uncertainty of not knowing where their loved ones are. Thousands of children are sheltering in tents in the streets where their daily routines and sense of security have been ripped away.
“Protection and psychosocial support are urgent priorities for children. With so many people dead, injured or missing, and so many families uprooted from their homes, children need both immediate and long-term support to ensure that this devastating disaster does not cause long lasting mental harm. With the right help, most children psychologically impacted by the earthquakes will eventually be able to recover.”
Save the Children is on the ground in Venezuela, working with authorities and local partners and will be providing primary healthcare through mobile clinics, distributing hygiene and shelter kits, clean water and essential supplies. Save the Children is also running safe spaces where children can access mental health support and continue learning while schools remain closed, and where those with more significant needs can be referred for individual support.
Save the Children is an independent, impartial child rights organization, working in Venezuela since 2019. Since the humanitarian crisis started to rapidly deteriorate a few years ago, Save the Children has scaled up its response through local partners to support the increasing number of children in need.
*Names changed for anonymity
[1]UNHCR – Venezuela Protection Situation Update #3 – Earthquake Response
Help Children in Venezuela Recover After Disaster
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