On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department announced that its total financial commitment to assist Venezuela following the catastrophic earthquakes on June 24 has exceeded $386 million. The agency has also established a new humanitarian air bridge in collaboration with Amazon and Airlink to maintain the delivery of emergency supplies to the nation.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and occurring just 39 seconds apart, had their epicenter 21 kilometers west of Morón in Carabobo state. These are considered the most destructive quakes recorded in Venezuela in over a century. The latest official report from Venezuela lists 3,685 fatalities, 16,740 injuries, and over 17,900 individuals left homeless.
According to the State Department's statement, the funds have been rapidly directed to trusted partners like Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF, the World Food Program, the International Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, and World Vision, among others. These organizations are providing emergency medical care, food, water, sanitation, shelter, and logistics support.
From its own warehouses, the State Department has distributed over 400 metric tons of supplies — including shelter and hygiene kits, tarps, buckets, and cooking sets — reaching approximately 70,000 individuals across various communities in the country.
Humanitarian Air Bridge Initiative
The most significant announcement on Wednesday was the setup of a humanitarian air bridge between Miami and Maiquetía Airport. Amazon will conduct weekly cargo flights free of charge for humanitarian groups; Airlink — a non-governmental organization connecting aviation with humanitarian efforts — will manage initial logistics and prioritize cargo based on urgent needs. The Logistics Cluster, led by the World Food Program, will handle ground distribution.
"American industry, American diplomacy, and international partners move forward as one," stated the State Department in its official release.
Military and Rescue Operations
Militarily, the USS Fort Lauderdale remains stationed off the coast of La Guaira, with sailors and Marines delivering supplies directly to the hardest-hit coastal areas via amphibious vessels. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) continues to support logistics at Simón Bolívar Airport, whose runway was partially restored with U.S. assistance to facilitate humanitarian flights from all countries.
Urban search and rescue teams deployed from Fairfax County, Los Angeles County, the City of Miami, and Miami-Dade County concluded their operations on Monday after rescuing survivors, including a baby and its mother found alive after being trapped for over 30 hours under a collapsed building.
Overall, more than 60 international rescue teams, comprising over 2,400 responders and nearly 200 rescue dogs from 29 countries, answered the call. This includes brigades from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.
The State Department emphasized that the response will not end with the withdrawal of rescue teams: "The United States will not leave when the TV cameras do," warned the statement, which also highlighted the need for "rapid, safe, and risk-informed" housing reconstruction to support long-term recovery.
The State Department’s Disaster Response Team remains in Caracas to continue delivering critical assistance.
Key Aspects of U.S. Aid to Venezuela
How much financial aid has the U.S. allocated to Venezuela after the earthquakes?
The U.S. has allocated over $386 million to assist Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes in June.
What organizations are involved in the humanitarian air bridge initiative?
The humanitarian air bridge involves Amazon, Airlink, and the Logistics Cluster led by the World Food Program.
What role is the U.S. military playing in the aid efforts?
The USS Fort Lauderdale is positioned off La Guaira’s coast to deliver supplies, and SOUTHCOM supports logistics at Simón Bolívar Airport.