NPR News: 07-03-2026 2PM EDT

Louise Schiavone· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. More than 2,500 people in Venezuela are now dead after twin earthquakes struck around Caracas last week. The search continues for tens of thousands of missing. International Rescue Committee Emergency Response Director Rafael Velasquez Garcia.

Rafael Velasquez Garcia· Soundbite0:19

We are looking right now, sadly, at, you know, the figures where more than 2,000 people have died, and there's still more than 38 to 40,000 people missing.

Louise Schiavone· Host0:27

Beyond search and rescue, he says, "It's also critical to address the quality of life that earthquake destruction has left behind for affected Venezuelans."

Rafael Velasquez Garcia· Soundbite0:35

Now we have to reconstruct people's livelihoods. We have to help people help themselves, making sure that they have access. Our people on the ground, our teams on the ground, are telling us that they're considering a vector response. Uh, they're worried about water and sanitation, lack of access to clean water.

Louise Schiavone· Host0:48

The quakes erupted a week ago Wednesday. The death toll in the latest Russian strikes on Kyiv has climbed to 30 as rescue workers sift through the remains of an apartment building destroyed in that missile strike. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports from Kyiv that Ukraine is running low on air defense supplies that intercept missiles.

Speaker 31:07

Ukraine has already developed interceptors that target Russian drones, but it relies on Western allies to supply anti-ballistic air defense that targets Russian missiles. In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants licenses to produce US-designed Patriot air defense missiles.

Joanna Kakissis1:28

"If