The Daily Journal. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a general license Thursday that temporarily authorizes transactions related to humanitarian relief efforts following the earthquake in Venezuela, partially easing restrictions under the country’s sanctions program.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 60, allowing “all transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela” that the Venezuelan Sanctions Regulations would otherwise prohibit.
The authorization will remain in effect through October 23, 2026.
According to the Treasury, the measure aims to facilitate the movement of financial resources needed for emergency response and reconstruction.
“This general license includes the processing or transfer of funds on behalf of third-country persons to or from Venezuela in support of the authorized transactions,” OFAC said.
The license also allows U.S. financial institutions and registered money transfer companies to process these transactions, provided they do not know that the operations violate the conditions established by the Treasury Department.
Authorization does not lift sanctions
The U.S. administration emphasized that the license creates a limited exception to the sanctions regime and does not provide broad sanctions relief for Venezuela.
The document expressly states that the authorization “does not authorize the unblocking of any blocked property” under the Venezuelan Sanctions Regulations, nor does it permit transactions prohibited under other executive orders or sanctions programs administered by the U.S. government.
OFAC also reminded the public that the license “does not relieve any person from complying with any other federal law or the requirements of other federal agencies.”
A seismic doublet struck central Venezuela on Wednesday. The official death toll now stands at 188, while more than 1,500 people have suffered injuries. Authorities also report that 157 people remain missing. However, the extent of the destruction in the coastal state of La Guaira suggests that the number of casualties could rise significantly in the coming hours.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. government announced a $150 million humanitarian assistance package. Washington also deployed search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles.
