The United Nations’ Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission on Venezuela has issued an urgent appeal to the government to immediately restore access to social media and communication platforms, warning that the country is facing a “life‑and‑death” situation following two powerful earthquakes that struck near Caracas on 24 June.
The twin quakes — a rare doublet measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude — have killed at least 164 people and injured more than 970, making them the strongest seismic event to hit Venezuela since 1900. Rescue teams are racing against time to pull survivors from collapsed buildings, with roads cracked, neighbourhoods flattened, and the country’s main airport forced to shut down. Officials fear the death toll will rise as emergency crews continue digging through concrete and twisted metal.
Amid the devastation, Venezuelans have been left without access to major social‑media platforms, severely hampering efforts to trace missing relatives, coordinate rescue operations, and share real‑time information. UN experts said restricting communication during a national emergency “deepens chaos” and undermines humanitarian response.
The Mission urged CONATEL — Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator — to fully unblock access to platforms and news outlets, calling it a critical first step in ensuring human rights guide the national and international response. While some users have reportedly regained access to X, the government has not issued any statement.
The UN described the situation as a “devastating blow” to a country already grappling with economic hardship, political instability, and infrastructure fragility. With millions scrambling for updates and rescue teams relying on digital coordination, communication blackouts risk worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.