How Venezuela’s earthquake amputees adapt to life without limbs

More than four months after the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela, 24-year-old Ricardo Contreras is recovering from the amputation of his left leg and undergoing physiotherapy alongside his 16-year-old brother, Andres. Ricardo, whose parents died in the collapse, hopes a prosthetic leg will help him regain some independence. Survivors face long-term health needs as international aid dwindles: in September, UNICEF had secured only $29.5m of the $65.7m required, while the Red Cross response was 39.8 percent funded. Authorities report more than 6,500 deaths and at least 226,696 people treated for injuries.