A new United Nations estimate has put the direct physical damage caused by the twin earthquakes in Venezuela at 37 billion US dollars.

The estimate includes around 24 billion US dollars in damage to buildings, including homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and public facilities, and another 13 billion US dollars in damage to infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the United Nations and its partners are continuing to scale up assistance to people affected by the earthquakes, in coordination with the Venezuelan Government.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that children are among the worst affected by the disaster. It estimates that 650,000 people, including 234,000 children, will require humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF has deployed emergency teams and delivered 68 tonnes of relief supplies, including medical materials, water and sanitation equipment, and essential household items.

UN agencies are already providing services in three relief camps and are assessing additional sites for support. Health partners are delivering primary healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as sexual and reproductive health services where required.

The Humanitarian Response Plan for Venezuela has so far received 274 million US dollars, along with more than 32 million US dollars from private sector donors and additional in-kind contributions of goods and services.