Venezuela estimates 25,000 homes needed for earthquake victims, seeks release of frozen assets

Venezuela requires an estimated 25,000 homes for citizens displaced by earthquakes on June 24, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. He stated that his sister, acting president Delcy Rodríguez, will deliver the first 200 homes next week.

Rodríguez anticipates the number of homeless individuals, currently near 18,000, will rise as inspections of damaged buildings continue. Authorities are launching a biometric census in temporary camps in Caracas, Miranda, and La Guaira to precisely determine the number of new homes required. The urgency is heightened as many schools are currently serving as temporary shelters.

The government is working rapidly to establish "single-family camps" by September or October, when the school year begins, to house those displaced from schools. They are also "accelerating the search for spaces to build earthquake-resistant cities and housing," including urban developments with schools, sports facilities, and commercial areas to ensure residents feel comfortable.

Surveys in La Guaira have identified approximately 40 plots totaling 584,000 square meters suitable for low-rise construction. Geological and soil studies are underway to determine feasibility for these flat areas at the foot of mountains or on plateaus ready for leveling. The UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, previously mentioned that Venezuela's plan, supported by the UN, includes importing prefabricated housing to address the shelter crisis.