- More than 16,700 people have been injured.
- Almost 18,000 people have been left homeless.
- Venezuela appeals for the release of gold held by the 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 Rodríguez on Wednesday.
The latest count puts the number of people injured in the June 24 earthquakes at 16,740 and the number of homeless people at 17,907.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez renewed calls for international sanctions on Venezuela to be lifted to aid earthquake recovery, saying the country had enough assets abroad to help finance reconstruction if frozen accounts were released.
“Venezuela has resources blocked around the world that could address this reconstruction process,” the president said on state television channel VTV, adding that funds are also needed for employment and education programs.
The United States, the European Union and other countries have imposed successively stricter sanctions on Venezuela over the past two decades over accusations that the government engaged in undemocratic activities and that the country is a haven for drug trafficking.
Many of the measures are still in force. But after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, Washington provided targeted aid to the country’s oil sector.
After the earthquakes, the United States authorized for four months transactions related to earthquake relief that would have been prohibited by sanctions.
Delcy Rodríguez said she had sent a letter to King Charles requesting the release of Venezuelan gold held in the Bank of England. He also said he had spoken to the head of the International Monetary Fund about releasing funds.
The Bank of England has refused to release some 31 tons of Venezuelan gold found in its vaults. The bullion has been the subject of a long legal battle in the British courts.
