WILLEMSTAD – The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has begun mobilizing personnel and resources through its Cooperative Security Location (CSL) in Curaçao to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country this week.
According to SOUTHCOM, the Curaçao facility is being used as a strategic hub to coordinate and deploy assistance as international relief efforts intensify in response to the disaster.
The humanitarian mission is aimed at supporting Venezuela's recovery after two powerful earthquakes caused widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, and significant loss of life. Search-and-rescue operations remain underway in several of the hardest-hit areas as emergency crews race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
The CSL in Curaçao has long served as a key forward operating location for regional security, humanitarian, and disaster response missions throughout the Caribbean and northern South America. Its proximity to Venezuela makes it an important logistical platform for rapidly moving personnel, equipment, and emergency supplies into affected areas.
The announcement comes as the international response to the disaster continues to grow. The United States has already confirmed the deployment of specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles, while additional disaster response personnel are expected to join the mission.
Authorities in Curaçao have also been actively involved in humanitarian efforts. Earlier this week, the island assisted approximately 350 airline passengers stranded after earthquake damage forced the closure of Venezuela's main international airport near Caracas. The Curaçao government coordinated emergency accommodations with local agencies, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations.
The earthquakes, which were also felt across Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Trinidad and Tobago, and parts of Colombia, have prompted regional governments to offer assistance to Venezuela. Curaçao's Crisis Team remains in contact with relevant authorities while monitoring the evolving situation.
With Curaçao now serving as one of the operational hubs for international relief efforts, the island is expected to play an important role in supporting the humanitarian response as rescue and recovery operations continue in neighboring Venezuela.