The Daily Journal — The United States has increased its humanitarian assistance for Venezuela to $386 million following the June 24 earthquakes and announced the launch of an air bridge to speed the delivery of relief supplies, the U.S. Department of State said Wednesday.
According to a statement from the Office of the Spokesperson, authorities committed the funds without delay and are channeling them through multilateral agencies and international humanitarian organizations to strengthen relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
The World Food Program (WFP), UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Samaritan’s Purse, and Global Empowerment Mission are delivering the assistance through emergency medical care, food distribution, clean water, sanitation, and shelter management programs.
The State Department also reported that it has shipped more than 400 metric tons of relief supplies from its logistics hubs, allowing responders to provide immediate assistance to approximately 70,000 people.
“U.S. assistance is reaching those most in need quickly thanks to the joint efforts of our international partners,” the department said.
One of the operation’s key milestones was the restoration of a runway at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, with support from the U.S. Southern Command.
“U.S.-supported repairs restored a runway for humanitarian and relief flights from all countries,” the statement said.
The reopened runway will support a permanent humanitarian air bridge coordinated by the State Department, Amazon, and Airlink.
U.S. officials said they designed the system to prevent logistical congestion and ensure that aid aligns with the most urgent humanitarian priorities.
“Our goal is to prevent a bottleneck in relief efforts or a second disaster in which unsolicited donations overwhelm communities and divert resources from the most urgent needs,” the State Department added.
Delivering supplies to isolated communities
Meanwhile, the amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale remains deployed off the coast of La Guaira state to support the distribution of aid to isolated communities and assist with assessments of damage to port infrastructure.
According to Washington, U.S. sailors and Marines are using landing craft and amphibious vehicles to transport relief supplies to communities cut off by damaged roads. At the same time, naval specialists work alongside Venezuelan authorities to inspect the Port of La Guaira.
Rescue teams return to the United States
The State Department also announced that U.S. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams deployed from Virginia, California, and Florida have completed their mission and returned to the United States after joining international rescue crews in debris removal operations.
Washington said the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) will remain in Caracas to coordinate the next phases of the humanitarian response with Venezuela’s interim government, the United Nations, and other donor countries.
