RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, June 28

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. military capabilities continue arriving in Venezuela today to support ongoing U.S. earthquake relief efforts requested by the Venezuelan government and led by the U.S. State Department.

• A Contingency Response Element (CRE), comprised of approximately 100 airmen with airfield management expertise and related equipment, arrived today to assist the Venezuelan government and aviation authorities with safely expanding the vital flow of inbound and outbound air traffic at Simón Bolivar International Airport. The last of five U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft transporting the CRE will arrive in Venezuela today. The CRE enhances assistance provided by a U.S. military Airfield Assessment Team that completed necessary repairs making Simón Bolivar International Airport operational. The Assessment team continues to work with local Venezuelan officials and the U.S. interagency response team to help resume other critically needed airport operations.

• U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft are transporting personnel and equipment.

• U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys continue transporting key personnel and resources.

• About 130 U.S. Marine Corps personnel will arrive at the Port of La Guaira, which was rendered closed by the earthquake, within the next 24 hours. In coordination with local authorities and the Department of State, they will open the port for much needed supplies and equipment to reach the heaviest hit parts of Venezuela by sea.

• U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopters, embarked with the U.S. amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), are supporting aerial assessments of areas impacted by the earthquakes and transporting U.S. State Department personnel leading the U.S. disaster relief mission.

• U.S. Sailors and Marines from USS Fort Lauderdale delivered critically needed assistance supplies to the Port of La Guaira with a Landing Craft on the morning of June 28.

• U.S. Army CH-47 Chinooks and crews from Joint Task Force-Bravo will begin arriving in Venezuela today to provide airlift support.

• U.S. Space Force, through its SOUTHCOM component, continues providing satellite imagery of impacted communities and damaged infrastructure to aid disaster relief planners with assessing where immediate live-saving and aid efforts are needed most, and prioritizing requests for disaster response capabilities.

SOUTHCOM operations are completely self-sustaining, with personnel on the ground requiring zero local resources as they work tirelessly to deliver critical relief to the people of Venezuela.

Updated information about the Department of War's support to the U.S. government's earthquake relief mission in Venezuela and life-saving assistance to the Venezuelan people will be posted on SOUTHCOM's official social media accounts.

Planning of additional U.S. military support is ongoing in close coordination with the U.S. State Department, the Venezuelan government, and other partners and Allies contributing to the ongoing international relief effort and will be announced once confirmed.