Over 100 Jewish Families in Venezuela Still Await Home Repairs After June Earthquake

Nearly two months after the severe earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, more than 100 Jewish families remain without repaired homes. The disaster claimed the lives of three community members, left at least 15 families homeless, and caused extensive destruction to many residences. Among the survivors is Sol Banian de Berto, 59, an English teacher and aid volunteer who escaped from the sixth floor of a building in San Bernardino with her 90-year-old father through debris-filled stairs. She is currently staying with friends while organizations like World Jewish Relief (WJR) work on repairing her apartment.

Another survivor, Berta Manzila, a biology and chemistry lecturer, fled with only a small bag containing medication and documents after her phone alerted her moments before the building collapsed. Rebecca Franco, 89, who had just celebrated her birthday, had to move in with her daughter after her home’s walls were destroyed. Once numbering around 40,000, the Jewish community in Venezuela now counts approximately 4,000 members but has shown strong solidarity in the aftermath.

Immediately following the earthquake, the Braica Center opened its doors to about 1,500 people from within and outside the community. James Silverman, WJR’s humanitarian programs director who visited the area, described the damage as more severe than expected. The organization is providing clean water systems, shelters, hygiene kits, mental health support, and is actively involved in home repairs to aid the affected families.