US announces $386M in humanitarian aid for Venezuela

By Javier Bolaños, Editor for Latin America of Diario Cristiano Friday, July 10, 2026

The U.S. State Department issued an official update on humanitarian assistance operations in Venezuela following the earthquakes of June 24. 

According to the document, the operations are being coordinated through an interagency approach with the private sector and various international organizations.

The U.S. government's financial commitment amounts to more than $386 million, with the funds being distributed to strategic partners, including faith-based organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, Global Empowerment Mission, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Medical Corps, the International Organization for Migration, Project Hope, Samaritan's Purse, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and World Vision.

These entities manage the delivery of emergency medical care, food assistance, water, sanitation and shelter. To date, the State Department reports the delivery of more than 400 metric tons of assistance, consisting of shelter kits, hygiene kits and cooking kits, reaching approximately 70,000 people.

Establishment of a new air bridge

As part of the logistics strategy, the State Department announced the creation of a humanitarian air bridge to facilitate the entry of supplies into the South American country.

Amazon will provide weekly flights from Miami, Florida, to Maiquetía, Venezuela, covering the transportation costs. Cargo management and flight planning are handled by Airlink, a non-governmental organization specializing in connecting aviation with humanitarian efforts.

Once the supplies arrive in Venezuelan territory, the logistics cluster led by the World Food Program is responsible for coordinating the delivery to the organizations operating on the ground.

The operation includes the participation of the Department of War to address logistical challenges in coastal areas. The USS Fort Lauderdale is positioned off the coast of La Guaira state. Sailors and Marine Corps personnel are using amphibious and landing craft to transport supplies directly to hard-to-reach areas.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Southern Command is supporting operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport, where repairs were made to a runway to enable the arrival of humanitarian flights.

Risk assessment and urban rescue

The U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS) collaborated by providing public assessments of aftershock risk and modeling of buildings with structural damage.

In the field of urban search and rescue, more than 60 international teams operated alongside U.S. units from Virginia, California and Florida. The official report details the results of these joint missions.

"U.S. and international teams rescued survivors from the rubble days after the earthquakes, including a baby and its mother rescued after being trapped under a collapsed building for more than 30 hours," the report reads.

Although the U.S. rescue teams have returned to their country, the State Department's Disaster Relief Assistance Team (DART) remains active in Caracas.

The official document emphasizes that the U.S. intervention encompasses the stages following the immediate emergency. 

"The United States will not withdraw when the television cameras do," the press release states, noting that rebuilding homes and restoring public services will require risk-informed planning and long-term implementation.

The State Department reminded U.S. citizens in Venezuela that they have access to ongoing consular assistance, recommending their enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updated security notifications.

This article was originally published by The Christian Post Español.