The twin quakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 left more than 5,000 people dead. The high toll is largely attributed to the collapse of numerous buildings with residents trapped inside. Photo by U.S. Department of State/UPI | License Photo
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has increased to 5,119 people, officials said Saturday.
The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes on June 24 — the biggest the country had seen in more than a century — also injured more than 16,740 people.
Jorge Rodriguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, said more than 21,470 people remain in makeshift camps, while 17,907 are without housing.
“The resilience of our people in the temporary camps confirms that Venezuelans are unbreakable,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Together, we are driving the nation’s renewal, demonstrating that no adversity can stop the strength of those who build the future with hope.”
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday said her government would receive $346 million in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund.
“These funds will help support the affected families with housing, infrastructure, essential public services and other urgent needs,” the president said in a statement.
Venezuela has been under crushing economic sanctions by the United States for nearly 10 years, since the government of ousted president Nicolas Maduro.
Earlier this week, a group of 14 democratic U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for the removal of the sanctions.
“These economic restrictions are severely hampering urgent relief efforts, and will continue to threaten Venezuela’s recovery and long-term reconstruction if allowed to remain in place,” the legislators wrote in the letter, obtained by El Pais.
In the letter, signatories demanded an immediate release of Venezuela’s frozen assets abroad.
“The June 24 earthquakes were unpreventable natural disasters, but the U.S. government’s far-reaching economic sanctions and asset freezes that have severely undermined the country’s response and reconstruction efforts are man-made and avoidable,” the letter continues. “And given the president’s decision to launch military strikes, forcibly detain Nicolas Maduro, and proclaim that his administration ‘runs’ the country, you bear additional responsibility for the humanitarian response.”
