The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, thanked this Wednesday the help of the United States after the double earthquake in Venezuela, who has been "the most generous donor so far" and assured that "this is not a time for politics, it is a time to save lives."

UN highlights international cooperation

In an interview with EFE in Playa Grande, one of the areas most devastated by the double earthquake on June 24, Fletcher assured that they are “in very close contact with Washington,” despite the disagreements of Donald Trump's Administration over cuts in humanitarian aid.

However, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the generosity of the United States in this tragedy and thanked all the “donors for the support” provided.

In addition, Fletcher also highlighted the “very close coordination” that is taking place with the Venezuelan Government and thanked the president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, for “the cooperation,” as he noted: “it is a crisis that would overwhelm any government in the world, so we are grateful for the way we have been working together.”

"We have been working in partnership from the first minute with them, including in our coordination cells. And that alignment is incredibly important. And that partnership has been working as well as it can," said the British diplomat.

Furthermore, he insisted that now is the time to mobilize all force in response to the earthquake and not for politics.

"This is not a time for politics; it's a time to put aside all that politics, all geopolitics too, and focus on saving as many lives as we can. And that's what we're determined to do," Fletcher concluded.

The devastating double earthquake of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude has caused, according to the latest official balance, 3,685 deaths and 16,740 injuries.