The swift and substantial response from the U.S. to aid victims of the recent twin earthquakes in Venezuela challenged earlier fears that the reduction of USAID and a streamlined international aid process would leave the country vulnerable during a crisis.
Venezuela, while not often the site of large earthquakes, experienced two significant tremors measured at over magnitude 7 late Wednesday. The state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, were severely impacted. As of Friday morning, the government reported 589 fatalities, over 2,000 injuries, and many others trapped beneath collapsed structures.
After years of socialist governance—first under Hugo Chávez and then Nicolás Maduro—Venezuela is notably ill-equipped for disaster management. The extensive neglect of its healthcare system, the degradation of its oil industry, and the diversion of resources to a repressive regime have left the country in a precarious position.
Delcy Rodríguez, the interim leader remaining after Maduro’s arrest in January, has struggled to manage the crisis alone. Initial rescue efforts featured individuals using cellphones as makeshift lights, searching through debris. The government even urged citizens looking for missing relatives to document their searches via VenApp, an app often associated with government surveillance of dissenters.
In response, the State Department acted quickly, dispatching dozens of trained rescuers and dogs throughout the country to assist with search and recovery. They coordinated with the War Department to utilize specialized aircraft as the local airport suffered significant damage from the quakes. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard was appointed to oversee the relief efforts in Caracas.
According to Southcom, U.S. forces were employing various aircraft to provide essential services to government officials, rescue teams, and partners involved in damage assessment and aid delivery.
On Thursday, the State Department announced its coordination with local humanitarian organizations and U.S. military operations through a Venezuela Earthquake Response Task Force, designed to streamline assistance efforts.
[T]The United States is mobilizing $150 million in aid to Venezuela, which includes a $100 million contribution to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and another $50 million directed to local groups like World Vision and the World Food Programme.
Specialized rescue teams from Fairfax, Virginia, and Los Angeles, California, also arrived in Caracas to aid in the recovery efforts.
Rodríguez expressed gratitude through a written message, thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for the “support and solidarity” during this trying period, stating that Venezuela would remember this assistance.
She noted personally speaking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demonstrating a surprising openness to U.S. help, especially considering past tensions where accusations of harmful actions by U.S. aid were common under Maduro’s vice presidency.
The rapid deployment of aid has seemingly calmed fears stirred by media following Trump’s decision to incorporate USAID into the State Department, raising concerns about potential inefficiencies in international aid delivery. While some celebrities voiced strong criticisms regarding this change, the subsequent investigation into USAID revealed inefficiencies and questionable priorities, leading to skepticism about its capacity to effectively assist in crises like this one.
Senator Joni Ernst remarked on the failings of USAID, while John Sopko lamented its dysfunctional operations. Rubio pointed out that only a fraction of aid funds reached recipients, emphasizing his commitment to finding more efficient ways to deliver support directly to those in need.
