The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has climbed to 3,811, according to the latest figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez
The updated figures show that 16,740 people were injured in the June 24 earthquakes, while 17,907 have been left homeless.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez renewed her appeal for international sanctions on Venezuela to be lifted to support recovery efforts, arguing that the country has sufficient overseas assets to help fund reconstruction if frozen accounts are released.
“Venezuela has resources blocked around the world that could address this process of reconstruction,” the president said on state television channel VTV, adding that funds were also needed for employment and education programs.
The United States, the European Union and several other countries have imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on Venezuela over the past two decades, citing allegations of anti-democratic practices by the government and claims that the country has become a haven for drug trafficking.
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Many of those sanctions remain in force. However, after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, Washington granted targeted sanctions relief to Venezuela’s oil sector.
Following the earthquakes, the U.S. also authorized, for four months, transactions related to earthquake relief that would otherwise have been prohibited under the sanctions.
Delcy Rodriguez said she had written to King Charles requesting the release of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England. She also said she had spoken with the head of the International Monetary Fund about unlocking additional funds.
The Bank of England has declined to release about 31 tons of Venezuelan gold stored in its vaults. The bullion remains at the center of a prolonged legal dispute in British courts.
