LA GUAIRA — Venezuela secured $346 million in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund to support recovery efforts following twin earthquakes that devastated the country. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the money was being released from Venezuela’s reserve tranche to meet urgent humanitarian needs.

The financial aid comes weeks after magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within a minute of each other. The seismic events devastated La Guaira, a coastal state north of Caracas that is home to Venezuela’s main international airport and a major seaport.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported that the death toll from the twin earthquakes is 5,119. Government figures indicate that 16,740 people were injured in the earthquakes, though Rodriguez stated that most of the injured have been discharged from hospitals.

The United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 people may still be missing following the earthquakes. Approximately 20,000 people remain displaced following the earthquakes, with 21,120 people living in shelters according to Additional Source 1.

Many displaced people are living in overcrowded shelters without reliable access to clean water or sanitation. Cinthia Pulido, a Venezuelan displaced by the earthquakes, described the disparity between civilian and state efforts. From the very first moment, from when the earthquake happened, there was an immediate response, but from civilians.

Civilians and independent people. The state’s response is only being seen now, Pulido said.

Pulido added that survivors are seeking clarity on government assistance. We’re watching and waiting for some kind of answer, she said. Rodriguez insisted the government responded swiftly to the earthquakes and dismissed claims of chaos as a narrative manufactured by 'media laboratories'.

A Reuters investigation found that the first days of the rescue effort were hampered by delayed military deployment orders, shortages of basic rescue equipment, and confusion caused by overlapping chains of command. Local authorities reported that a total of 1,331 aftershocks had been recorded by Friday, following the initial quakes.

Venezuela's government reported that 856 buildings are damaged and 190 collapsed completely. Hundreds of other structures, such as bridges and roads, were affected by the earthquakes. The scale of destruction has prompted significant international financial attention.

The IMF and World Bank restored relations with Venezuela in April 2026, ending a suspension of ties that began in 2019 after the institutions refused to recognize Maduro’s government. The United States forcibly removed former President Nicolas Maduro from power in January 2026.

Venezuela has faced tight US sanctions since 2015. Mark Weisbrot, a Senior Economist and Co-Director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, stated that $11 billion in Venezuelan resources are blocked by the US and European countries.

Fourteen Democratic lawmakers in the US sent a letter urging the White House to ease economic sanctions on Venezuela. The UN estimates that recovery efforts in Venezuela could cost the country $37 billion.

The $346 million disbursement represents a significant step in re-engaging Venezuela with international financial institutions after years of isolation. The restoration of relations with the IMF and World Bank in April 2026 paved the way for this emergency funding, which targets urgent humanitarian needs in the wake of a disaster that killed 5,119 people.

The financial support arrives as the country faces a reconstruction bill estimated at $37 billion by the United Nations. With tens of thousands still displaced and missing, and extensive damage to critical infrastructure in La Guaira, the funds address immediate relief while broader recovery efforts continue during ongoing sanctions and political transitions.