Medical crisis emerges in Venezuela after earthquakes amid sanitation issues and doctor shortages

Thousands of displaced Venezuelans are sleeping in crowded shelters or outside without access to clean water amid dismal sanitary conditions following the June 24 earthquakes, Euronews writes.

Aid workers have warned that the aftermath of the earthquakes has developed into a major medical crisis that, unless quickly brought under control, will claim more lives in the coming days and weeks. The emergency has exposed Venezuela’s chronic shortage of doctors.

Aid workers also warn that extensive damage to infrastructure could fuel disease outbreaks in the hardest-hit communities.

About 50 international teams have arrived in Venezuela in recent days to assist with search-and-rescue efforts. Officials say the two earthquakes killed at least 2,295 and left more than 11,000 injured.