The sprawling grounds of a former country club in Caracas have been converted into an emergency medical facility to cope with the surge in casualties from clashes between government forces and opposition protesters. British volunteer medics on the ground describe a scene of relentless pressure, treating patients with panic attacks, fractures, and gunshot wounds.
The facility, once a symbol of elite leisure, now operates as a makeshift hospital with limited supplies. According to Dr. Emily Harris, a physician from London, the team has treated over 200 patients in the past 48 hours. “We are seeing a high volume of trauma cases, including fractures from beatings and falls, and psychological distress from sustained gunfire,” she said.
The crisis follows weeks of political turmoil after disputed elections. The international community has condemned the violence, with the UK Foreign Office urging restraint. However, the medics report that patients are reluctant to give details for fear of reprisals.
The Venezuelan health ministry has not commented on the facility’s operations. The British medics are part of a non-governmental organisation that has operated in the region for five years. They stress that their mission is purely humanitarian.
“People are terrified. Many have not slept for days,” said Dr. Harris. “We are doing what we can, but the need is overwhelming.”
The situation underscores the broader collapse of Venezuela’s public health system, which has been in decline for years due to economic sanctions and political mismanagement. The country club hospital is a stark illustration of how the elite’s leisure spaces have been repurposed to manage a crisis that shows no sign of abating.
