The UK’s Emergency Medical team is deploying with a fully equipped field hospital to earthquake-hit Venezuela after being formally invited by the Venezuelan Ministry of Health to help communities devastated by two powerful earthquakes.
The UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) is the British Government’s deployable medical team for crises, funded by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and delivered by Manchester-based humanitarian medical charity UK-Med. The team will establish the hospital in one of the worst-affected areas, where it is expected to be treating patients as early as next week.
The deployment follows a rapid assessment by a three-person UK EMT advance team, which concluded that additional international medical support was urgently needed as hospitals struggled to cope with the scale of the disaster.
The team brings world-leading experience from some of the globe’s most challenging humanitarian emergencies, including the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where clinicians have helped deliver emergency medical care in exceptionally difficult conditions.
David Wightwick CMG, Chief Executive of UK-Med, said:
“When disasters like this strike, every hour matters. Our teams are trained to establish fully functioning hospitals in some of the world’s toughest environments, delivering lifesaving care where local health services have been overwhelmed.
“Alongside treating traumatic injuries, we know from experience that people still need maternity care, treatment for chronic illnesses, emergency surgery and everyday healthcare. Our field hospital is designed to provide that vital lifeline while supporting Venezuela’s health system through the critical weeks ahead.”
Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Chris Elmore said:
“The scale of destruction caused by these earthquakes is devastating, and the UK is stepping up support for the people of Venezuela.
Alongside our deployment of specialist search and rescue teams and emergency humanitarian funding, we are matching up to £2 million in public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal and deploying the UK Emergency Medical Team and field hospital, helping deliver life-saving healthcare and support to communities hit hardest by this disaster.
The UK stands with those affected and remains committed to helping save lives and supporting recovery in the weeks ahead.”
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck north-central Venezuela on 24 June 2026, causing widespread destruction across several states, including Carabobo, Aragua and the capital, Caracas.
Tragically, reports indicate over 1,900 have been killed, with tens of thousands missing. Behind every statistic is a family waiting for news of someone they love. Many people have lost homes, family members and livelihoods. Health needs are only one part of the crisis, but maintaining healthcare is fundamental to helping communities begin recovering.
Hospitals have reported a surge in casualties, while damage to healthcare facilities, power outages and disrupted communications have severely reduced access to essential health services.
Invited by the Venezuelan Ministry of Health, the UK EMT field hospital will work alongside national health authorities to strengthen healthcare capacity and provide vital medical services to communities affected by the disaster.
The fully self-sufficient facility will include:
- Capacity to treat up to 100 outpatients every day
- 20 inpatient beds
- Emergency maternal and newborn care
- Laboratory testing
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support
- Community health promotion and disease prevention activities
While traumatic injuries are an immediate priority after an earthquake, experience from previous UK EMT deployments shows that routine healthcare needs rapidly become life-threatening when health systems are disrupted.
The team will provide treatment for infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, maternal, newborn and child healthcare, rehabilitation and minor injuries, helping to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals while ensuring people continue to receive essential healthcare.
As a World Health Organization verified Emergency Medical Team, the UK EMT is designed to be rapidly deployable, fully self-sufficient and able to integrate with national health systems, ensuring international assistance strengthens local healthcare services rather than replacing them.
This deployment reflects the UK’s continuing commitment to supporting countries affected by humanitarian disasters and demonstrates Britain’s internationally recognised emergency medical capability.
NOTE TO EDITORS
- The response is funded by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The UK EMT is delivered by UK-Med, a Manchester-based humanitarian medical charity.
- The field hospital is deploying from Birmingham International Airport on Saturday 04 July.
- Many members of the clinical team are NHS staff who volunteer for international emergency responses.
- The field hospital can treat up to 100 outpatients per day and includes 20 inpatient beds.
- The field hospital will deliver maternal, newborn and child health – focusing on life-saving interventions for women and newborns, children up to 5-years old (antenatal/postnatal and paediatrics).
- UK EMT is a World Health Organization verified Emergency Medical Team.
