委内瑞拉在6月24日遭遇强烈地震，官方统计死亡人数超过2,000人，实际伤亡由于多年来的治理崩溃而难以精确统计，联合国已紧急订购10,000个运尸袋。灾区灾情极为严峻，在受灾最重的拉瓜伊拉州，灾后黄金48小时内几乎没有任何官方救援，居民只能徒手在废墟中搜寻亲人。尽管美国派遣了300名救援人员和900名海军陆战队员，并承诺提供3亿美元援助，但其中仅1亿美元是新增资金，面对巨大的灾后需求，救援物资与设备的匮乏使灾区弥漫着腐烂的恶臭，医疗机构也面临严重的物资和人员短缺。

自今年1月唐纳德·特朗普派兵逮捕委内瑞拉独裁者马杜罗并扶持副总统德尔茜·罗德里格斯接任以来，委内瑞拉的命运便与美国深度绑定，其石油收入也受到美国的直接控制。目前，委内瑞拉国内反美情绪由于救援不力和政治压制而不断上升。特朗普政府与现政权联手阻止流亡的反对派领袖玛丽亚·科里纳·马查多回国，这进一步激怒了公众。为了缓解危机，美方及罗德里格斯政权应明确选举时间表以安抚公众情绪，并为海外投资者重塑法治信心，而非无限期拖延民主进程。

此外，地震加剧了委内瑞拉本已极其严重的债务危机，其主权债务估计达2400亿美元，占国内生产总值（GDP）的240%。由于国际货币基金组织（IMF）尚未介入，且债权人结构极为复杂，包括中国银行、俄罗斯政府以及大量匿名债权人，美国官员希望在年底前达成债务重组协议的想法是不切实际的。美国必须敦促委内瑞拉政府遵循国际规则并积极与IMF对接，避免通过一个容易引发法律纠纷和腐败指控的局部、草率的重组方案。

The June 24th earthquakes in Venezuela officially claimed over 2,000 lives, though the true toll remains unknown due to decades of institutional collapse, prompting the UN to order 10,000 body bags. The government's rescue response was dismal, with worst-hit regions like La Guaira receiving no official aid during the critical first 48 hours. Although the United States dispatched 300 rescue workers and 900 marines, only $100m of the promised $300m in aid represents new funding. This inadequate response has left hospitals unequipped to handle injured survivors, while fuel shortages have delayed heavy machinery needed to clear rubble, causing the stench of decomposing bodies to spread.

Since January, when Donald Trump deployed forces to capture dictator Nicolás Maduro and install Delcy Rodríguez, Washington has held direct control over Venezuela's oil revenues. Public anger is rising as the Trump administration and the regime have blocked exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado from returning to Caracas, fearing her arrival would spark unrest. To defuse tension, the US and the Rodríguez regime must establish a clear timetable for promised elections. This move is essential to channel public frustration peacefully and to offer international investors hope that the country will transition away from lawlessness toward a predictable legal framework.

The earthquakes have also worsened Venezuela's massive debt crisis, with sovereign debt estimated at $240bn, representing 240% of its GDP. Restructuring this debt will be highly complex because the IMF is not involved, and the creditors include Chinese banks, the Russian government, and various anonymous entities. Although US officials hope to finalize a restructuring deal by the end of the year, this schedule appears unrealistic. Washington should resist pushing through a rushed, partial agreement that would invite legal challenges and corruption allegations, and instead pressure the Venezuelan government to engage directly with the IMF to secure stable long-term financing.

Source: Venezuela’s earthquakes are partly America’s problem

Subtitle: The government’s response has been dire. Its patron has a duty to help

Dateline: Jul 02, 2026 10:18 AM