UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP)—The United Nations launched an urgent appeal Wednesday to raise $296 million for Venezuela earthquake relief operations after the death toll from the disaster rose to more than 3,600 people.

There is huge humanitarian need after one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters left thousands of people homeless and thousands more still missing, especially in badly damaged La Guaira, where families are still digging in the rubble.

“Donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them, and I thank them,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said during a meeting on the disaster.