Journalists and civil organisations are reporting the disappearance of minors and alleged sexual abuse in the shelters set up after the earthquake in Venezuela. The Government maintains strict control over official information.
Venezuelan journalist Daniela Mendes has confirmed that alerts regarding the disappearances of minors and alleged sexual abuse in the temporary shelters after the earthquake have multiplied in recent days. Mendes, a graduate of the Universidad Santa María in Caracas and specialised in Human Rights, points out that the Government is not providing official information about these incidents.
“What is happening with the missing children in Venezuela is very serious and the Government is not providing information about this. We even saw at the conference with international media that they cleared very few doubts and are not at all willing to solve any problems left by this double seismic event,” Mendes states.
First reports from La Guaira
The first reports began to arrive from La Guaira, one of the most affected areas by the earthquake. According to Mendes, several colleagues reported that many mothers were reporting the disappearance of their children. Additionally, there are parents who have died and whose children survived, but were transferred to Caracas for medical attention and there are no records of them in any hospital.
The journalist adds that the lack of official information makes any verification efforts difficult. “Our colleagues also live in fear of reporting or speaking out. Let’s remember that this is a Government that has repressed, disappeared, and imprisoned people for 27 years,” she asserts. As an example, she cites the case of Wilmer Antonio Cruz, a citizen who participated in rescue efforts and subsequently disappeared after publicly criticising the government’s actions.
Social media and anonymous reports
In the absence of official data, a significant portion of the reports are circulating through social media under anonymous profiles. Mendes highlights the case of the account @eldelgorritoazul, one of the first to alert about the disappearance of minors and to collect testimonies from relatives.
The journalist also notes that this profile reported the appearance of alleged advertisements published on the Vinted Venezuela platform with photographs of stuffed animals accompanied by descriptions such as “brown eyes,” “white skin,” or “4 years old,” messages that some users interpreted as possible covert references to minors. “That reporter has been missing from social media for over twenty hours and internet users claim they do not know their whereabouts,” she states.
Crowding and fear in the shelters
The reports have also increased anxiety among displaced families. According to this newspaper, the overcrowding in some shelters has led several families to choose to sleep in tents set up outside to keep their children permanently in sight. “I prefer to sleep with my children than there. I even accompany them when they need to urinate,” a mother told a local media outlet.
In the capital district, a video is also circulating in which a group of citizens detains a man who, allegedly dressed in a police uniform, attempted to abuse a minor. The images have reinforced the existing concern among those staying in these shelters.
The Government's silence
The Venezuelan Government has not issued official statements regarding these reports. Journalist Daniela Mendes insists that the lack of transparency worsens the situation and puts minors at risk. Meanwhile, international human rights organisations have requested access to the shelters to verify conditions and protect the children.
For readers in Mallorca, this situation serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in emergency management. Although far away, the vulnerability of minors in disasters is a universal issue that demands immediate attention and action.
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