By Zoila Palma: Venezuela’s U.S.-backed acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday strongly defended her government’s response to last week’s devastating earthquakes, rejecting accusations that authorities reacted too slowly and dismissing claims that the death toll is far higher than official figures.
Speaking at a press conference in Caracas while wearing a black ribbon in mourning, Rodríguez criticized media reports questioning the government’s handling of the disaster.
“We did not wait one day, two days or three days. We activated immediately,” Rodríguez said, accusing some media outlets of spreading misinformation. “To politicize a humanitarian tragedy like this — when the Venezuelan government and its authorities have spared no effort, public, private, national, or international — is disgraceful.”
Officials have confirmed at least 2,295 deaths as of Wednesday, though no updated toll was released on Thursday, AP reports.
The government has faced criticism from residents in the hard-hit state of La Guaira, where survivors said they were initially left to search for loved ones with their bare hands due to a lack of organized rescue operations. Concerns have also been raised over shortages of specialized rescue equipment and allegations that poorly constructed social housing projects worsened the destruction. Rodríguez rejected those claims, asserting that about 80 percent of the buildings that collapsed were privately developed, though she provided no evidence.
Rodríguez also defended the government’s official casualty figures after reports suggested the death toll could be significantly higher. “We do not want to speculate,” she said. “The numbers we provide are rigorously verified.”
The post International News: Venezuela’s acting President defends earthquake response appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Venezuela’s U.S.-backed acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday strongly defended her government’s response to last week’s devastating earthquakes, rejecting accusations that authorities reacted too slowly and dismissing claims that the death toll is far higher than official figures. Speaking at a press conference in Caracas while wearing a black ribbon in mourning, Rodríguez
The post International News: Venezuela’s acting President defends earthquake response appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
