LatinNews Daily - 20 July 2026

*Venezuela’s President Delcy Rodríguez has announced that Venezuela has received US$346m in funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country recover from the 24 June twin earthquakes that killed over 5,000 people. Rodríguez did not provide any detail on the nature of the funds, saying in a statement that Venezuela has “initially” accessed “US$346m of its own resources”. This appears to be a reference to Venezuela’s reserve tranche at the IMF, which the Rodríguez administration has been seeking to access and which is distinct from the country’s US$4.5bn in special drawing rights (SDRs). Rodríguez said that the funds will go towards recovery and reconstruction, including “supporting affected families with housing, infrastructure, and essential public services, among other needs”.