(Venezuela, 9th) The United Nations on Wednesday issued an urgent appeal to the international community to raise $296 million (about RM1.207 billion) for rescue and reconstruction efforts in Venezuela following a devastating earthquake over the next six months. The local death toll has risen to 3,811, with large numbers of people still missing.
According to AFP, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Fletcher said the funds would provide emergency assistance to about 1.3 million disaster victims, and he thanked countries that have already offered help.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Gil called on countries that have frozen Venezuelan overseas assets to unfreeze those funds for post-disaster reconstruction. He said that some of Venezuela’s overseas assets have been frozen due to international sanctions, including gold stored in the UK and funds blocked by the US.
The US has temporarily eased some economic sanctions on Venezuela for four months to facilitate disaster relief efforts.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Gil called on countries that have frozen Venezuelan overseas assets to unfreeze those funds for post-disaster reconstruction. He said that some of Venezuela’s overseas assets have been frozen due to international sanctions, including gold stored in the UK and funds blocked by the US.
The US has temporarily eased some economic sanctions on Venezuela for four months to facilitate disaster relief efforts.
The United Nations estimates that the double earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24 caused about $6.7 billion in economic losses, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela’s gross domestic product (GDP); the capital Caracas' international airport has still not resumed commercial flights.
Two weeks after the quake, international search and rescue teams have basically ended their search for survivors, with efforts now focusing on finding the bodies of the deceased. The government said on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 3,811, with about 17,000 people injured and nearly 18,000 left homeless.
In the worst-hit area of La Guaira, many residents are still searching through the rubble by hand, hoping to find their loved ones. Resident Ramirez (34) said she would not give up hope as long as her nieces' bodies had not been found.
Two weeks after the quake, international search and rescue teams have basically ended their search for survivors, with efforts now focusing on finding the bodies of the deceased. The government said on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 3,811, with about 17,000 people injured and nearly 18,000 left homeless.
In the worst-hit area of La Guaira, many residents are still searching through the rubble by hand, hoping to find their loved ones. Resident Ramirez (34) said she would not give up hope as long as her nieces' bodies had not been found.