By Admin I Monday, August 18, 2026
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced on Friday an additional $11 million in humanitarian assistance to support recovery efforts in Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the nation on August 10.
The new funding brings total U.S. assistance for the disaster to $26.5 million.
The response is being coordinated alongside Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, with relief operations focusing on emergency shelter, clean water, medical aid, and post-earthquake structural assessments.
The Department of State is deploying resources from its prepositioning warehouse in Miami via U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) transport flights operating out of Homestead Air Force Base.
Key details of the operational response include:
Distribution Partners: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN World Food Program (WFP) are managing last-mile delivery of food, shelter, and hygiene kits.
Technical & Rescue Teams: Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) technical support teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California, arrived on August 12 to assist Colombian search-and-rescue teams with structural engineering, communications, and emergency coordination.
Connectivity: Military transport flights are carrying hundreds of Starlink satellite internet kits to restore communication channels for emergency responders and government officials under a disaster response agreement established earlier this year.
Broader Humanitarian Funding: Alongside direct earthquake aid, the U.S. previously allocated $200 million to the Colombia Pooled Fund via a broader $3.8 billion contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Guidance for U.S. Citizens
The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is delivering emergency support to Americans in affected regions. U.S. citizens currently in Colombia are advised to:
Enroll in STEP: Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at STEP.state.gov to receive emergency updates.