UN Requests $296 Million for Venezuela Earthquake Recovery

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher called for scaled-up international financial support to assist Venezuela's recovery following a double earthquake. Speaking in Caracas on July 8, 2026, Fletcher announced that the UN is adding an addendum to the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan to address the needs of 1.3 million additional people.

To implement the six-month plan, the UN requires an additional US$296 million, which contributes to a total funding gap of US$627 million. Fletcher highlighted the scale of the initial response, noting that over 3,000 rescue workers and 50 urban search-and-rescue teams from more than 30 countries, including the US, Mexico, Germany, France, and Israel, participated in relief efforts.

Fletcher urged member states to translate global solidarity into practical financial support for basic services and reconstruction. He further advocated for sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets to facilitate the country's recovery process.