Delcy Rodríguez Government Hides Earthquake Victim Numbers

Venezuela's government has a long-standing policy, dating back to 1999, of withholding official statistics on critical and sensitive matters, a practice that appears to continue with data concerning the June 24 earthquake victims. The lack of transparency is causing significant concern and hindering relief efforts.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez has been providing daily updates on fatalities, rescued individuals, and the number of disappeared. However, his statements have been inconsistent with citizen-generated records. On Tuesday, Rodríguez alluded to approximately 10,000 deaths in the La Guaira disaster zone, a figure that clashes with independent efforts to locate missing relatives.

“

What happens is that they are synchronized. There is a political decision for others to resolve, for third parties to respond to the population in the face of tragedy.

There is no official registry for the injured transferred to public and private health centers, nor a comprehensive list of the deceased or recovered bodies awaiting identification and handover to families. Early reports from the Pan American Health Organization highlighted critical gaps, including the collapse of forensic and morgue services, inadequate victim registration, and poor tracking of missing persons, issues now becoming increasingly evident.

The opacity surrounding those in shelters or displaced by the collapse of thousands of homes following the tremors is characteristic of the Chavista regime's approach. This lack of information and inaction is reportedly creating tension between security forces and the civilian population, as the government prioritizes loyalty over addressing the immediate needs of its citizens in the wake of the tragedy.

“

critical gaps include the collapse of forensic and morgue services, inadequate victim registration and tracking of missing persons, as well as structural damage.