Venezuela, UN seek funds as quake toll climbs

CARACAS: The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.

The latest tally puts the number of injured in the June 24 quakes at 16,740, and the number of homeless at 17,907.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez renewed calls for international sanctions on Venezuela to be lifted to assist the earthquake recovery, saying the country had enough overseas assets to help finance reconstruction if blocked accounts were 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 US, the European Union and other countries imposed successively more stringent sanctions on Venezuela in the last two decades over allegations that the government engaged in anti-democratic activity and that the country is a haven for drug trafficking.

Many of the measures remain in place. But after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro early this year, Washington provided targeted relief to the country’s oil sector.

After the earthquakes, the US authorized for four months transactions related to earthquake relief that would have been banned by sanctions.

Delcy Rodriguez said she had sent a letter to King Charles requesting the release of Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England. She also said she had spoken with the head of the International Monetary Fund about releasing funds.

The Bank of England has refused to release some 31 tons of Venezuelan gold held in its vaults. The bullion has been the subject of a long-running legal battle in British courts.

Meanwhile, The United Nations launched an urgent appeal Wednesday for nearly US$300 million towards Venezuela earthquake relief operations as the death toll from the disaster rose to more than 3,800 people.

There is huge humanitarian need after one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters left thousands of people homeless and thousands more still missing, according to an AFP report.

In badly damaged La Guaira, families are still digging for the bodies of loved ones in the rubble.

“Donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them, and I thank them,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said during a meeting on the disaster.

Officials were appealing for US$296 million to provide urgently needed aid for 1.3 million people over six months, he said.