Caracas (TDI): The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 3,811, while thousands remain injured and displaced, authorities said on Wednesday.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the disaster has left 16,740 people injured and nearly 17,900 others homeless as rescue, relief and recovery operations continue across the affected areas.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez renewed calls for the lifting of international sanctions on Venezuela, arguing that the country’s frozen overseas assets should be released to finance reconstruction efforts.
Speaking on state television, Rodríguez said Venezuela possessed sufficient financial resources abroad to support rebuilding, employment and education programs if access to blocked funds was restored.
She said the government had formally requested the release of Venezuelan assets held overseas, including gold reserves stored at the Bank of England.
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According to Rodríguez, a letter has been sent to King Charles requesting the release of approximately 31 tonnes of Venezuelan gold currently held in London. She also said discussions had been held with the International Monetary Fund regarding access to additional financial resources.
The Bank of England has withheld the gold reserves for several years due to an ongoing legal dispute over the recognition of Venezuela’s leadership.
The United States, the European Union and several other countries imposed sanctions on Venezuela over allegations related to democratic governance and other concerns. While many restrictions remain in place, Washington earlier this year eased some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector following political developments.
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Following the earthquakes, the United States also authorized a temporary four-month exemption allowing transactions related to humanitarian relief and earthquake recovery that would otherwise be restricted under existing sanctions.
The Venezuelan government maintains that access to its frozen overseas assets would significantly accelerate reconstruction and humanitarian assistance for communities devastated by the earthquakes.
