Venezuela quake relief prompts sanctions‑lift plea and $300 M UN funding appeal

Magnitude‑7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on 24 June, killing at least 3 811 people, wounding 16 740 and leaving 17 907 without homes. The United Nations’ humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called for an additional $296‑$300 million to assist 1.3 million affected people and urged that sanctions not block aid delivery. More than 100 economists and academics, including Jeffrey Sachs and Isabella Weber, sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury asking Washington to suspend all sanctions on Venezuela’s central bank, PDVSA and related entities and to allow IMF emergency financing. China’s foreign ministry also appealed to the United States to lift “illegal” sanctions to facilitate reconstruction. The United States announced over $386 million in humanitarian assistance, an air‑bridge for supplies and deployment of rescue teams. Mexico contributed 71 tonnes of aid via a military air bridge, and UNICEF and other UN agencies have been distributing food, water, medical kits and cash. The Venezuelan government reported the establishment of 87 transitional camps for more than 14 600 displaced families and a reconstruction fund of $200 million.