Venezuela's interim president asks King Charles III for frozen gold to fund earthquake reconstruction

Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has formally requested that King Charles III of the United Kingdom release the nation's gold reserves held by the Bank of England. Rodríguez intends to allocate these funds towards reconstruction efforts in the wake of a devastating double earthquake that struck the country on June 24.

"I have decided to send a letter, to the King of England among others, so that they release the gold held at the Bank of England. That gold belongs to our people and must serve to address the terrible and tragic consequences of this double earthquake," Rodríguez stated. The Venezuelan leader also called for an end to sanctions and the unblocking of the country's resources held abroad, asserting that "Venezuela has the resources to recover and rise again."

Rodríguez indicated that she has also engaged with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to request the release of Venezuelan resources held by the organization. Caracas has long claimed control over its gold reserves deposited in London, which have been the subject of an international legal dispute.

“

I have decided to send a letter, to the King of England among others, so that they release the gold held at the Bank of England. That gold belongs to our people and must serve to address the terrible and tragic consequences of this double earthquake.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the June 24 earthquake has risen to 3,811, according to Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly and Chief of Staff. He reported that 16,740 people were injured, and 6,462 individuals were rescued alive from the rubble. His sister, interim president Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that 17,907 citizens are now homeless or living in severely damaged structures.

Approximately 17,000 people are currently housed in 61 camps, primarily located in the La Guaira state, Caracas, and other heavily affected areas. Jorge Rodríguez emphasized the need for continuous psychological support for survivors, many of whom are deeply traumatized by the tragedy. Support services, including psychologists and psychiatrists, have been activated in the camps.

According to the government's televised update, 856 buildings were damaged, with 190 completely collapsing. "86,794 families have been assisted, 9.6 million kilograms of food distributed, and 27,398 patients treated," Jorge Rodríguez announced.

“

Venezuela has the resources to recover and rise again.