If you ever wondered what happens when a natural disaster hits a country already teetering on the absolute brink of political and economic collapse, Venezuela just provided a heartbreaking reality check. Last month, a pair of devastating earthquakes flattened whole towns, killing over 5,000 people and leaving tens of thousands without a roof over their heads. Now, the nation faces a staggering Venezuela earthquake recovery bill running into tens of billions of dollars, and nobody seems to have a clear idea where the cash will come from.
A Tragic Search and a Mind Boggling Rebuilding Bill
More than a month after the massive 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck, rescue workers have largely stopped hunting for survivors. Families now dig through the rubble with picks and shovels simply trying to find the remains of their loved ones. The World Bank estimates the physical damage alone at roughly $20bn, but properly rebuilding the destroyed cities could easily push the total cost toward a eye watering $50bn. Without major investment, experts predict the nation’s economy will remain completely crippled until 2036. Reporters at QtrlyEdition note that attempting to rebuild an entire country on a shoestring budget is basically like trying to fix a leaky submarine with duct tape.
US Sanctions, IMF Scraps, and Washington’s Oversized Shadow
The global community rushed to pledge support, but the actual funds arriving fall laughably short of what locals desperately need. The International Monetary Fund chipped in $346m, while various European donors handed over smaller slices of aid. Even the United States offered $300m in relief money, though critics point out the hilarious irony. Washington still maintains heavy trade sanctions on the country after American forces abducted former President Nicolás Maduro back in January.
While the Trump administration claims it eased certain restrictions to allow aid through, US lawmakers and human rights groups demand that Washington lift sanctions entirely and unfreeze Venezuelan bank accounts. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez now walks a delicate tightrope, trying to manage an international humanitarian nightmare while operating under constant pressure from Washington. Rebuilding brick by brick is hard enough, but doing it with handcuffed hands makes the task almost impossible.
Drinking water and disease are concerns
Access to safe drinking water has become one of the biggest challenges. Unsafe water and inadequate sanitation are contributing to diarrheal diseases, urinary tract infections, skin infections and conditions that allow mosquito borne diseases to spread, said Carolina de Jesús, Venezuela project director for the humanitarian organization Project HOPE, who has spent nearly every day in the region since the quakes.
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Related Topics: South America
