Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez has asked King Charles III to intervene in the release of frozen gold reserves held at the Bank of England, valued at $1.9 billion, to fund recovery from the devastating June 24 earthquake that struck the country two weeks ago.
Rodríguez, who assumed the interim presidency after Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3, said she requested the release of roughly 30 tonnes of gold to address a disaster that has killed at least 3,811 people and left nearly 18,000 homeless, with thousands still missing. The United Nations has launched an urgent $296 million appeal for emergency relief.
Caracas has called for the release of all frozen state assets abroad, including $5.1 billion in special drawing rights blocked at the IMF, for reconstruction. Separately, 113 economists and academics have urged the United States to ease sanctions on Venezuela in light of the humanitarian crisis.