Venezuela's earthquake amputees face a new struggle: prosthetic legs and dwindling aid

Ricardo Contreras's new leg rests on a wooden countertop. More than four months after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, the 24-year-old is still recovering from his injuries.

When he was trapped beneath the rubble on the night of June 24, he waited hours to be rescued. His left leg had been pinned beneath a fallen door frame, limiting its blood circulation. It had to be amputated.

"One of the biggest achievements is that we survived," Ricardo said, glancing towards his 16-year-old brother, Andres Contreras. "At first, when I found out Andres was well, I didn't care about my leg too much. I would have chosen a thousand times over for Andres to be OK."

But now Ricardo is adapting to his new reality. He and his brother are still undergoing physiotherapy for their injuries. On a scorching afternoon, he sits in a small workshop in the hills of northwestern Caracas, waiting to do rehabilitation exercises to prepare for his new prosthetic leg.

"Now it's about regaining a little of the independence I had before the earthquake, because that's what limits me most," Ricardo said.

But recovery is only part of the challenge he is facing. His parents died in the collapse.

More than 6,500 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the earthquakes, according to government authorities. At least 226,696 people have received hospital treatment for injuries. The government says it has compiled a census of amputees, but no details have been made public.

Resources and aid have also grown scarcer, particularly as global attention faded and international donations dried up. As of September, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it had secured only $29.5m of the $65.7m needed to continue its earthquake support in Venezuela, a shortfall of 55 percent.

Separately, that same month, the International Red Cross said its Venezuela response effort was only 39.8 percent funded.

At Ortoprotecnica, a Caracas workshop that makes prosthetic limbs, director Bianca Damaso is helping survivors like Ricardo through the next stages of recovery. For those who have lost limbs, it typically takes two to three months of physiotherapy, rehabilitation and preparation to be ready for a prosthesis — sometimes longer depending on how their wounds heal and any pre-existing health conditions.

She said there are more than 100 types of knees to choose from, as well as more than 200 skin shades. But the process does not end with the first fitting. Children may need five or six replacement prostheses as they grow, while adults might require ongoing adjustments and repairs.

Then there are the psychological hurdles. Many earthquake survivors wonder about practical realities like whether they will walk again, whether they will need a wheelchair or whether they will be able to urinate independently. Many, in Damaso's experience, also question whether they will find a partner who will love them.

Experts say recovery for earthquake survivors will likely be a lifelong endeavour, given the physical and mental toll of the June 24 tragedy. Not only are survivors like Contreras left to grapple with loss of limbs and family members, but they now face the prospect of lifelong health costs — with dwindling support.