Venezuela Acting President Delcy Rodríguez Launches Post-Earthquake Recovery and Honors UN Coordinator

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez led a ceremony in late July 2026 to award the Hero of Venezuela decoration to public servants, members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, and United Nations resident coordinator Gianluca Rampolla. She presented Rampolla with the Francisco de Miranda Order, thanking him for the UN’s role during the double earthquake that struck Venezuela on 24 June and marking the transition from emergency response to a recovery and reconstruction phase.

Rodríguez emphasized that the new phase will focus on vulnerable populations and will be coordinated by three vice‑presidencies—Social Protection, Services and Public Works, and the Economic Cabinet—together with multilateral partners such as the World Bank, the European Union, the Inter‑American Development Bank and CAF. She also announced the restart of consular relations with Chile, underscoring a broader diplomatic outreach.

In her remarks she said, “Let’s move beyond this dimension of emergency and into a recovery and reconstruction phase centered on human beings in all their dimensions,” and added, “I truly want to thank you for all your efforts as the United Nations national coordinator in Venezuela.”