Venezuela has accessed $346 million from its own holdings at the International Monetary Fund to finance recovery efforts following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, 2026, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, killed more than 5,000 people, injured over 16,700, destroyed at least 190 buildings and left nearly 18,000 people homeless, primarily in the coastal state of La Guaira. More than 21,000 displaced residents are sheltering in 107 temporary camps.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the disbursement for urgent humanitarian needs. The release marks a significant step in relations between Caracas and the IMF, which were suspended in 2019 and resumed in April 2026. Rodríguez thanked Georgieva for her support and has separately requested that King Charles III release Venezuelan gold reserves held at the Bank of England.