The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to more than 5,000, as authorities announced the release of hundreds of millions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support reconstruction efforts.
The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within a minute of each other on June 24, devastating the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, Caracas.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the disaster claimed 5,069 lives, with the majority of fatalities recorded in the hardest-hit coastal communities. The number of injured remains at 16,740, although Rodriguez noted that most victims have since been discharged from hospital.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez later announced that Venezuela had accessed $346 million from the IMF to finance emergency reconstruction.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the release of the funds, stating that the institution had worked with key partners to enable Venezuela to access its reserve tranche for urgent humanitarian needs.
The earthquakes also displaced about 20,000 people, many of whom remain in overcrowded temporary shelters with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
One of the displaced residents, 19-year-old Eliana Garcia, was photographed caring for her newborn son, Gael Jesus, who was born in La Guaira a day after the June 24 disaster while the family sought refuge at a shelter in Maiquetia.
Venezuela holds 3.568 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at the IMF, equivalent to approximately $5.1 billion. Access to the funds had previously been restricted because the IMF did not recognise Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s president.
The IMF and the World Bank resumed relations with Venezuela in April after the United States-backed military intervention that removed Maduro from power in January. The country’s ties with both institutions had been suspended since 2019.
