WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch government has officially confirmed that the United States is using part of Curaçao's Hato International Airport as a logistical hub for emergency relief operations in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.
The confirmation was made in a letter sent Friday to the Dutch House of Representatives, outlining the Kingdom's contribution to the international humanitarian response.
According to the Dutch government, the U.S. military is conducting its relief mission from the Cooperative Security Location (CSL) at Hato Airport, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Defense. The facility, which has long been used for regional security cooperation, is serving as a staging point for humanitarian assistance being transported to Venezuela.
The cabinet also confirmed that the governments of Curaçao and Aruba have provided logistical support and personnel to assist with the international relief effort.
The U.S. operation forms part of a broader multinational response to the disaster, which has prompted humanitarian assistance from several countries and international organizations.
The Netherlands deployed its own Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team consisting of 64 emergency responders and eight search dogs, who operated in Venezuela from June 26 through July 2. Their mission focused on locating survivors trapped in collapsed buildings following the powerful earthquakes.
In addition to the rescue team, the Royal Netherlands Navy's station ship in the Caribbean has been actively supporting relief efforts. Assisted by an NH90 helicopter and fast FRISC interceptor boats, the vessel has conducted multiple deliveries of food and drinking water to affected communities in Venezuela.
Dutch Defense also transported a medical team from Aruba to the disaster area to support emergency healthcare services.
According to the cabinet, Dutch authorities remain in close contact with the governments of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire to assess whether additional assistance may be required as relief operations continue.
The Dutch Embassy in Caracas has also been reinforced to support ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian coordination.
The confirmation follows earlier announcements by both the Curaçao and Dutch governments that the island would serve as a humanitarian hub for aid shipments destined for Venezuela. Since the earthquakes struck, Curaçao has coordinated the collection and transport of relief supplies, while the Royal Netherlands Navy, the United States and other partners have worked together to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected regions.
The earthquakes have claimed thousands of lives and left tens of thousands of people injured or displaced, making the international response one of the largest humanitarian operations in the Caribbean region in recent years.