Three Ways to Help Venezuela After the Earthquakes

On 25 June 2026, two earthquakes struck western Venezuela, leaving families without medicine, food, water, and basic supplies. Here in Melbourne, our community has been asking the same question: what can we actually do from here?

We've put together three ways to help, based on what's worked, what's legal, and what we trust.

1. Donate to a Registered Charity

The simplest way to help is through a charity that already has the systems in place to get aid to the ground safely.

Our recommended option is Mates Without Borders, a charity founded by Venezuelans in Australia that funds humanitarian aid projects in Venezuela through verified on-the-ground NGOs.

Before you donate to any organisation in Australia, check that it's formally registered on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) search tool. If it holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, your donation may also be tax-deductible.

2. Send Direct Assistance

If you'd rather help a specific person or family directly, you can do that too, legally and safely, from Australia.

Use an authorised transfer platform. Services with direct coverage to Venezuelan bank accounts, such as Remitly Australia or Ria Money Transfer Australia, are reliable options.

Know the legal line. Sending money to relatives or contacts is completely legal from Australia, provided you use authorised providers and the funds aren't directed to entities or individuals under international sanctions (DFAT maintains the relevant list).

On the ground: Karina and Jonathan

Within the VAA community, two of the people we're supporting directly are Karina and her partner, Jonathan. They're VAA volunteers who used to live in Melbourne and now live in Caracas. Since the earthquakes, they've been working tirelessly to buy and distribute aid, medicine, nappies, food, and water, to affected families, and they're now supported by other locals on the ground too.

They've been documenting everything: receipts, purchases, and the tired but determined faces behind the work. If you'd like to contribute directly to what they're doing, here are their details:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Karina Agelvis Zapata BSB: 063023 Account number: 10290385

3. Run a Local Campaign

If you have a business, a community space, or a local channel, a hair salon, a radio show, anything with reach, you can organise your own solidarity fundraiser among your clients and friends. A few best practices if you do:

• Total transparency. Be clear from the start about how and where the money will be spent.
• Clear records. Keep a strict log of every single income and expense, and save all receipts and transfer confirmations.
• Think ahead. If the project grows or becomes ongoing, consider registering it as its own formal non-profit organisation in Australia.

Whichever path you choose, every bit of support reaches someone who needs it. If you're running your own fundraiser or finding other creative ways to help, we'd love to hear about it, reach out and let us know.