- More than 16,700 people have been injured.
- Almost 18,000 people have become homeless.
- Venezuela appeals for release of gold in Bank of England.
CARACAS: The death toll from Venezuela’s two earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The latest count puts the number of injured in the June 24 earthquakes at 16,740 and the number of homeless at 17,907.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez renewed calls to lift international sanctions against Venezuela to aid earthquake recovery, saying the country had enough overseas assets to help finance reconstruction if blocked accounts were released.
“Venezuela has blocked resources around the world that could solve this reconstruction process,” 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 other countries imposed successively tougher sanctions on Venezuela over the past two decades over allegations that the government engaged in anti-democratic activity and that the country is a drug-trafficking haven.
Many of the measures remain in place. But after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro early this year, Washington provided targeted aid to the country’s oil sector.
After the earthquakes, for four months the United States authorized transactions related to earthquake relief that would have been prohibited by sanctions.
Delcy Rodriguez said she had sent a letter to King Charles requesting the release of Venezuelan gold in the Bank of England. She also said she had spoken to the head of the International Monetary Fund about releasing funds.
The Bank of England has refused to release around 31 tonnes of Venezuelan gold held in its vaults. The gold has been the subject of a protracted legal battle in British courts.
