Venezuela asks for release of frozen assets to fund earthquake recovery

Venezuela's government is appealing for the release of its frozen overseas assets to aid in the nation's recovery from devastating earthquakes last month. Foreign Minister Iván Gil urged countries holding Venezuelan funds to initiate a plan for their liberation, stating they could be used for reconstruction efforts.

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We want to call on all countries that still have blocked funds belonging to Venezuela to initiate a plan for the release of these funds so that we can use them for recovery.

Gil highlighted that these frozen accounts belong to the Venezuelan state and were blocked due to "illegal sanctions." He made the appeal during a virtual meeting with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The recent earthquakes have claimed the lives of at least 3,600 people, leaving a significant impact on the country.

Tom Fletcher, the UN's Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, is currently in Venezuela and has met with government officials. The UN launched an urgent appeal on Wednesday for $296 million to support relief operations in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Fletcher outlined a clear plan to address the socioeconomic needs of 1.3 million people over a six-month period.

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We have accounts in various parts of the world that belong to the Venezuelan state that have been frozen as a result of illegal sanctions.

This earthquake relief appeal is in addition to Venezuela's existing humanitarian crisis. Earlier this year, a $632 million humanitarian plan was announced, with nearly eight million people already requiring assistance. Before the earthquakes, this plan had only secured $115 million, but contributions have since increased its funding to $300 million. Fletcher noted that an additional $627 million is still needed to meet "urgent needs" in the Caribbean nation.

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We have a clear plan. $296 million is needed to address the socioeconomic needs of 1.3 million people at this time, for a period of six months. It is a plan with concrete deadlines.