Venezuela is seeking international support to rebuild after the deadly earthquakes, holding talks with the U.S. State Department, the IMF, the World Bank and other institutions as recovery efforts continue.
CARACAS — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Thursday that her government is in talks with the U.S. Department of State and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure financial resources for rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.
Speaking at a press conference, Rodríguez said Venezuela has also been in contact with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, both of which have offered non-reimbursable assistance and credit lines to support the country’s recovery efforts.
According to the government, at least 855 buildings have been damaged by the earthquakes, which have claimed 2,595 lives and injured more than 12,400 people.
Rodríguez said her administration established an initial $200 million reconstruction fund and opened an international donation account through CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The funds will be used primarily for housing reconstruction and will be subject to auditing mechanisms.
She also announced the arrival of a specialized team from Israel to assist with infrastructure assessments and evaluate buildings that sustained structural damage but did not collapse.
A preliminary satellite-based assessment conducted under the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Rapid Digital Analysis (RAPIDA) estimates total damage to homes, businesses and other economic assets at approximately $6.7 billion.
The Venezuelan government estimates that more than 12,800 people have lost their homes, while the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that approximately 16,000 people have been displaced.
Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio visited Venezuela earlier this week to discuss expanded humanitarian cooperation and potential support for rebuilding infrastructure and housing.
