Coalition demands end to US sanctions as Venezuelan quake toll climbs

The letter, signed by organizations including the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, warns that current US policies are actively obstructing the recovery. While the State Department has mobilized $150 million in aid, the coalition contends that emergency supplies cannot replace the country's need to access its own frozen financial assets. These funds are essential for importing fuel, medicine, and construction materials required to rebuild shattered infrastructure.

Economic data suggests that sanctions continue to stifle growth despite a rise in oil exports. Francisco Rodríguez of the CEPR noted that Venezuela's first-quarter growth for 2026 reached only 2.5%, a figure the coalition attributes to the US withholding oil revenues in deposit accounts. The group argues that maintaining these restrictions during a national catastrophe constitutes collective punishment, urging the administration to release the funds and decouple aid from political demands.