The Venezuelan government updated this Saturday (11) the balance of the earthquakes that hit the country on June 24. According to the new official report, the death toll rose to 4,333, while 16,740 people were injured. Rescue teams have already removed 6,462 survivors from the rubble, and seismic monitoring counts 1,202 aftershocks since the disaster.
In a press conference, the president of the National Assembly and coordinator of the General Staff responsible for temporary camps, Jorge Rodríguez, announced the creation of the Single Housing Registry, aimed at families who lost their homes. The system uses biometric fingerprint identification and provides proof with a QR code, which, according to the government, will serve as a guarantee for the delivery of a new residence.
According to Rodríguez, 17,907 people remain homeless, while 18,437 are housed in 94 temporary camps set up in Caracas, La Guaira and Miranda. The government estimates the need to build at least 25,000 homes to serve the affected population and reported that the first 200 homes should be delivered next week. The goal is to vacate schools converted into shelters by September or October, before the start of the next school year.
The housing plan foresees the construction of transitional housing, the purchase and completion of existing properties and the creation of new urban complexes designed to resist earthquakes. The government also announced that it intends to reform rental legislation to encourage the occupation of empty properties and open subsidized lines of credit for purchasing homes.
This Saturday’s official balance also reports that 856 buildings were damaged, of which 190 completely collapsed. To date, 86,794 families have received humanitarian assistance, with the distribution of 9,766 tons of food and more than 16.6 million liters of drinking water. According to the government, 31,837 agents, 30,197 volunteers and 2,422 international rescuers remain mobilized in rescue and reconstruction operations.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
