SOUTHCOM provides update on Venezuela earthquake relief

U.S. Southern Command has directed additional U.S. military capabilities to Venezuela to support ongoing U.S. earthquake relief efforts requested by the Venezuelan government and led by the State Department.

A Contingency Response Element is deploying to assist Venezuelan authorities with airport surveys, assessments, and airfield management to safely restore aviation operations in affected areas. Five U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft are scheduled to begin transporting the team today. The deployment expands assistance from a U.S. military Airfield Assessment Team already working with local officials and the U.S. interagency response team to help resume critical airport operations.

Another C-17 will carry two Miami-Dade County search and rescue teams to join life-saving efforts in devastated areas.

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys will continue moving key personnel and resources into Venezuela to support U.S. and international assistance efforts requested by Venezuelan authorities. A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Super Huey helicopter aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) will provide rotary lift support.

U.S. Army CH-47 Chinooks and crews from Joint Task Force-Bravo will pre-stage in Curaçao later today, positioned to begin airlift support to the mission.

The U.S. Space Force, through its SOUTHCOM component, continues to provide satellite imagery of devastated areas to disaster relief planners to help determine where immediate life-saving aid is needed most and to identify priority capability requests.

Updates on support to the U.S. government’s relief mission in Venezuela will be shared on SOUTHCOM’s official social media accounts. Planning for additional U.S. military support is ongoing in coordination with the State Department, the Venezuelan government, and other partners and allies contributing to the international relief effort, with further announcements to follow once confirmed.