Heavy and prolonged rains in Venezuela have caused floods and rivers to overflow, affecting thousands of families in at least five regions of the country. Save the Children has activated its humanitarian response to reach more than 500 families in the southern region of Zulia, in the Catatumbo and Colón municipalities.

Among the most affected groups are families with children under 5 years old, as well as the Wayuu indigenous population of the state. Hundreds of homes, businesses and schools have been affected, and activities have come to an abrupt halt.

Floods have become a recurrent problem in several areas of the country due to rains during times of the year when it does not usually rain, which occurs as "La Niña" event in the tropical zone, added to the lack of planning in construction in several regions of the nation.

Alessandro Tuzza, Director of Save the Children in Venezuela says: 

"Rainfall probabilities continue, and the vulnerability conditions of the affected population increase. We are on the ground visiting part of the affected areas in Zulia, we visited the temporary shelters of the impacted families and talked with key actors of the community. This emergency has damaged thousands of hectares of land and crops, leaving families in the region without economic activity. We are evaluating our response in collaboration with other organizations.

In Zulia, the floods have caused the rupture of a dam on the Zulia River and another on the Chama River, which has caused the river to flow towards populated areas, increasing water levels in homes. In addition, further loss of livestock and agricultural hectares, the main source of livelihood for the most affected populations in the southern part of the state, is expected. Save the Children will respond to this emergency together with other organizations in the country.