Miami nonprofit begins mobilizing aid for Venezuela after deadly earthquakes

Miami-Dade County admin June 25, 2026 0 Comments

Miami nonprofit begins mobilizing aid for Venezuela after deadly earthquakes

A Miami-based nonprofit is mobilizing to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes devastated the country Wednesday, killing hundreds of people. Officials warn the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

Global Empowerment Mission, GEM, headquartered in Doral at 1850 NW 84th Ave., is accepting donations and coordinating an emergency response. The organization expects to have response teams on the ground in Venezuela by Friday.

“The GEM team, partnered with our long-term Venezuelan partner I Love Venezuela, is currently mobilizing in response to the developing situation,” the organization said in a statement posted on its website.

Beginning Thursday volunteers and staff at GEM’s Doral headquarters will assemble and prepare humanitarian aid, including food, bottled water, hygiene kits, medical supplies and other emergency relief items.

The Venezuelan Caribbean was rocked by two powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck just 39 seconds apart, according to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center.

READ MORE: Venezuela double quake death toll climbs, and thousands feared trapped

The earthquakes were felt across much of the country, with the hardest-hit areas including Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón, according to Interim President Delcy Rodríguez.

GEM has previously operated in Venezuela, including during the country’s 2019 refugee crisis.

Earlier this month, the nonprofit also responded to a deadly earthquake in the Philippines, deploying teams to the Sarangani and Davao Occidental provinces. There, volunteers distributed food, clean water, hygiene supplies and other essential items to rural communities, according to their website.