EFE. — Chilean nonprofit TECHO, which operates in 18 Latin American countries, plans to build at least 200 homes for people affected by Venezuela’s June 24 earthquakes, the organization’s Global Executive Director, Juan José Ayarza, announced on Thursday.
The organization has set an initial goal of 200 homes, although it hopes to increase that number. Teams have already identified suitable land in 12 communities across the states of Falcón, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira, the region that suffered the greatest impact in northern Venezuela.
TECHO will build 18-square-meter prefabricated homes using compressed wood or fiber cement. Construction crews can complete each unit in about two days. Builders install every house on pilings to keep it off the ground. Families selected for the program take part in the construction process and complete a survey that assesses their level of vulnerability.
More than 50 TECHO volunteers have worked in the affected areas since the first days after the earthquakes to identify communities, families, and suitable building sites. The organization also continues to run an international fundraising campaign. So far, it has raised more than $400,000 and aims to collect $1.5 million.
TECHO has operated in Venezuela for 15 years and has responded to emergencies caused by fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Haiti. Over nearly three decades, the organization has delivered more than 153,000 homes across the region.
The twin earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude—have left 5,546 people dead, caused the collapse of 856 buildings, and forced 24,477 people to live in temporary camps, according to the official update released on July 24. The World Bank estimated direct physical damage at $19.6 billion.
With reporting from EFE.
