Kevin Cabrera, the U.S. Ambassador to Panama, indicated that personnel and humanitarian assistance were mobilized by the Trump administration within a day following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Panama on October 9. He highlighted that the aid was provided without relying on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“When tough times come, America shows up,” Cabrera expressed during an interview with Matthew Boyle on Breitbart News this past weekend.
After the quake struck this small nation located between Colombia and Costa Rica, Cabrera mentioned that 20 Urban Search and Rescue (USR) personnel were deployed “in less than 24 hours.” Although there was one casualty reported, at least 27 individuals suffered injuries, and over 400 buildings were damaged.
The ambassador explained that the USR personnel were sent “at Panama’s request” to assess the safety of buildings for evacuees.
Along with the emergency responders, President Donald Trump approved $5 million for humanitarian aid.
“We provided over 2,500 blankets, 2,900 mosquito nets, 750 tarps, 200 family tents, and 1,200 kitchen sets, as well as 500 sleeping mats,” Cabrera detailed. “These supplies are meant for over 12,000 individuals affected by the disaster.”
To facilitate this assistance, the U.S. repurposed helicopters that were already operating in Panama for drug enforcement missions.
“We managed to convert those into an air bridge to transport personnel and humanitarian supplies from the city to affected areas,” Cabrera recounted. “So, we were able to make helicopters available, along with personnel, in addition to that $5 million in humanitarian aid.”
Cabrera also noted that the response to the earthquake demonstrates the Trump administration’s capability to provide disaster aid effectively without USAID, which the administration had dissolved and integrated into the State Department.
“Many people questioned how we would respond when we dissolved USAID, asking, ‘How will we support our friends and allies during challenging times?’” the ambassador remarked. “What we’ve observed in various situations—like in Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia, and now Panama—is that we’ve been able to respond effectively while prioritizing what truly matters.”
According to Cabrera, USAID used to focus on “DEI and gender issues and other unusual concerns, rather than having policies that aligned with our president and our secretary of state.”
Looking to the future, Cabrera pointed out that damaged roads and bridges pose significant challenges for Panama’s recovery from the quake.
“Now comes the task of reconnecting communities, right? Making sure travel is possible, whether by road or other means, to repair these bridges and roads,” he stated.
