In the aftermath of the powerful double earthquake that struck Venezuela in June 2026, severe damage to infrastructure and telecommunications networks left many affected communities isolated from essential services and information. As international relief efforts scaled up, restoring reliable communications quickly became a critical operational priority.
On 25 June, Luxembourg received a request for assistance through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to provide emergency connectivity support in the affected area. The following day, two emergency.lu experts departed Luxembourg aboard a Luxembourg Air Rescue aircraft bound for Venezuela.
Upon arrival, the team established its operational base at the La Guaira Stadium, where international response teams had set up their coordination and accommodation facilities. Together with humanitarian partners, the experts conducted a series of assessments to identify the location where communications support would have the greatest impact.
Following these assessments, the coastal community of Caraballeda was selected for the deployment of an emergency.lu satellite communications module. The chosen site was an IVSS mobile clinic serving both disaster-affected residents and displaced families.
The IVSS (Instituto Venezolano de los Seguros Sociales) is Venezuela’s national social security institution and operates a network of healthcare facilities throughout the country. It provides medical services and healthcare support to insured citizens, pensioners and vulnerable populations.
The emergency.lu team installed its antenna system on the roof of the mobile clinic. Prior to the deployment, the area surrounding the facility had no internet connectivity, significantly hampering relief operations and limiting residents’ ability to communicate with relatives and access vital information.
To address these challenges, the team deployed a Ku-Rapid satellite communications system together with a fully redundant power supply architecture, ensuring continuous service even under demanding field conditions. Installation activities continued throughout the night to bring connectivity online as quickly as possible.
Once operational, the system immediately became a critical communications hub for both the healthcare sector and the wider humanitarian community. Clinic staff gained the ability to coordinate directly with hospitals and medical specialists elsewhere in the country, transmit diagnostic imagery including X-rays for remote consultation, and exchange operational information in real time.
For the families temporarily sheltered around the clinic, the connection also provided a vital link to the outside world. Many were able to contact relatives for the first time since the earthquake and reconnect with family members elsewhere in Venezuela and abroad.
