Following a major earthquake in Venezuela, the international humanitarian community mobilized rapidly to support national authorities in assessing needs and coordinating the emergency response. Within this framework, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system deployed experts to the affected area to facilitate coordination among humanitarian actors and support decision-making during the critical first days of the response.
To enable these coordination efforts, Luxembourg contributed two experts through the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP). Deployed to La Guaira aboard the Luxembourg Armed Forces’ CT-01 Airbus A400M aircraft, the team transported approximately one tonne of equipment required to establish a fully self-sufficient support base for around twelve responders in the field.
Upon arrival, the experts established a base camp at the La Guaira Stadium, located close to the areas most severely affected by the earthquake. The site became the central location for international response teams operating in the area. When the team arrived, no electrical power was available at the stadium. The Luxembourg experts initially ensured autonomous operations through their own equipment and subsequently connected the camp to the local electricity grid as services were gradually restored.
The mission focused on creating a safe and functional working and living environment for the UNDAC team. The Luxembourg experts set up accommodation facilities, sleeping quarters, kitchen and dining areas, shower and sanitation facilities, power generation, and supporting logistics infrastructure. These services are a critical component of every UNDAC deployment.
In emergency operations, UNDAC experts are tasked with assessing needs, supporting coordination among humanitarian actors, and providing advice to national authorities. To ensure they can dedicate their full attention to these responsibilities, they rely on IHP partners to provide the essential support services that make field operations possible, including accommodation, power, communications, sanitation, and logistics.
Through this deployment, Luxembourg helped create the operational conditions necessary for UNDAC and other international responders to effectively carry out their mission, contributing to a coordinated and efficient humanitarian response in the aftermath of the earthquake.
