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The United Nations (UN) has launched an emergency appeal for $296 million to fund relief operations in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that have killed more than 3,600 people.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher announced the appeal on Wednesday, saying the funds would support 1.3 million people in urgent need over the next six months.
He noted that although donors had already contributed about $300 million to the response, including $115 million pledged before the disaster, a significant funding gap remained.
“Donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them, and I thank them,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said during a meeting on the disaster.
“Already, based on the tracking system, the Venezuela response has received $300 million and I appreciate every single dollar of that support, including $115 million received before the earthquake. This leaves us now with a $627 million funding gap to address those urgent needs.
“We do have a clear plan. $296 million needed to reach 1.3 million in socioeconomic need right now over six months. It’s a time-bound plan,” Fletcher said.
The appeal comes as humanitarian needs continue to grow after the twin earthquakes left thousands homeless and many others still missing, particularly in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira, where search efforts have continued amid widespread destruction.
At the same UN meeting, Venezuela urged countries holding its frozen state assets to release the funds to support recovery efforts.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto said assets belonging to the Venezuelan government remained frozen in several countries as a result of international sanctions, arguing that the money should be made available for reconstruction.
“We call upon all countries currently holding blocked funds belonging to Venezuela to initiate a plan to release these funds so that they can be used for recovery efforts,” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto told the UN meeting.
“There are accounts belonging to the Venezuelan state in various parts of the world that have been frozen as a result of illegal sanctions.”
He specifically referred to Venezuelan gold held in the United Kingdom and funds frozen by the United States.
The United States has temporarily eased some economic sanctions on Venezuela to facilitate humanitarian relief operations following the disaster.
Rescue operations are gradually winding down nearly two weeks after the magnitude 7.3 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the country, with international search teams shifting from rescue efforts to recovery operations.
Venezuelan authorities said the death toll had risen to 3,685, while nearly 17,000 people were reported injured.
