Acting President Renews Call to Lift Sanctions
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday renewed her call for the lifting of international sanctions, arguing that the move would help finance relief and reconstruction efforts following the twin earthquakes that struck the country last month. The appeal came as the official death toll from the June 24 earthquakes rose to 3,811, according to official figures.
Casualties and Displacement Figures
Reuters reported that 16,740 people were injured and 17,907 displaced, citing National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. The twin earthquakes have caused widespread destruction, and the government is struggling to respond amid severe economic constraints.
Proposal to Use Overseas Assets
Rodríguez stated that Venezuela has overseas assets that could be used to fund reconstruction if they are unfrozen. She revealed that she had written to Britain’s King Charles III requesting the release of Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England. She also held talks with the International Monetary Fund on the release of frozen Venezuelan funds. The Bank of England has declined to release about 31 tons of Venezuelan gold held in its vaults, citing an ongoing legal dispute before British courts.
Background on Sanctions
The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have imposed sanctions on Venezuela for years over alleged violations of democratic principles and alleged links to drug trafficking. The Venezuelan government rejects those allegations and has consistently called for an end to what it describes as illegal and coercive measures.
