Venezuela Appeals for Frozen Gold and IMF Funds as Quake Death Toll Reaches 3,811

The official death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has climbed to 3,811, as authorities continue search, recovery and relief operations while appealing for access to billions of dollars in frozen overseas assets to finance reconstruction efforts.

Government officials said more than 16,700 people have been injured, while nearly 18,000 residents have been left homeless following the powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24, causing widespread destruction across several regions, particularly the coastal state of La Guaira and parts of the capital, Caracas. Rescue teams remain on the ground, although hopes of finding additional survivors have largely faded as operations transition toward recovery and rebuilding.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez urged the international community to allow Venezuela access to frozen financial resources held abroad, arguing that the country possesses sufficient assets to fund much of its reconstruction if restrictions are eased. She called on international institutions to release blocked accounts and appealed to the United Kingdom to return approximately 31 tonnes of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England. The government has also sought access to additional financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to Venezuelan officials, many of the country’s overseas assets remain inaccessible because of sanctions imposed over recent years by the United States, the European Union and other governments. Authorities argue that unlocking those resources would significantly accelerate housing reconstruction, infrastructure repairs and humanitarian assistance for affected communities.

Conditions remain difficult in many of the worst-hit areas. Thousands of families are living in temporary shelters or outdoors after homes and apartment buildings collapsed. Access to clean drinking water, sanitation and healthcare continues to be a major concern, with humanitarian agencies warning that overcrowded shelters and damaged infrastructure increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

The United Nations estimates that the earthquakes caused roughly $37 billion in damage and has launched an international humanitarian appeal to support more than one million people affected by the disaster. Relief agencies continue distributing food, drinking water, hygiene supplies and medical assistance while supporting efforts to restore essential public services.

Authorities have announced plans to construct new earthquake-resistant housing as part of the country’s long-term recovery programme. Engineers and emergency officials are also assessing damaged buildings across affected regions to determine which structures can be repaired and which must be demolished.

Despite the growing international assistance, humanitarian organizations say Venezuela faces an enormous recovery challenge that will require sustained financial support, infrastructure investment and continued emergency relief for thousands of displaced families in the months ahead.