Time is running out on the devastated streets of Venezuela. With thousands dead and many more missing under the rubble, the international community must act now to save lives.

For the British government, this action must include unfreezing the approximately $2 billion worth of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England. Without the return of these frozen assets, rescue operations are seriously hindered. As well as this, future rebuilding and rehousing will be severely impacted.

The international response in Venezuela has been far too slow and far from adequate, with the UK only pledging £2 million in response to the disaster. This is part of the increasingly inhumane cuts to international aid budgets imposed by many governments in Europe and around the world.

We are calling on the British government to release the frozen Venezuelan assets at the Bank of England with immediate effect. Anything less is a dereliction of duty and an abandonment of the UK's historic humanitarian role.