A military transport plane C-17 Globemaster III from the United States Air Force landed in Medellín on Monday with emergency supplies for the Colombian communities hardest hit by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that devastated the northwest of the country on August 10.
The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the operation through its social media, noting that the supplies come from the pre-positioning storage of the State Department located in Miami. “U.S. assistance to Colombia for earthquake relief continues,” stated Southern Command, specifying that the shipment will be distributed among the most affected communities.
During the previous weekend, SOUTHCOM and the U.S. Transportation Command (US TRANSCOM) had already mobilized nearly 220,000 pounds —approximately 99,790 kilograms— of shelter materials, water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies from Miami to Colombia. "The U.S. stands with the Colombian people as they respond to the devastating earthquake from last week," noted the official foreign assistance account of the U.S. government.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department, affected 15 departments and 448 municipalities across the country, impacting more than 115,000 people and approximately 54,000 families. As of August 15, the official balance from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported 294 deceased, 320 missing, and 3,935 injured.
The U.S. humanitarian operation is led by the Department of State, with SOUTHCOM in a supporting logistical role. The supplies being transported include shelter materials, hygiene items, food, and Starlink kits to ensure connectivity in emergency areas.
On the ground, the distribution is being coordinated by international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, the International Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, and World Vision.
The United States also deployed two urban search and rescue technical teams to support Colombian rescuers in hard-to-reach areas, such as the Chocó region, one of the poorest and most remote in the country.
In financial terms, Washington has committed a total of $26.5 million in humanitarian assistance: an initial package of $15.5 million announced on August 11, to which $11 million additional was added three days later.
The international response to the disaster has been extensive. Ecuador sent a rescue team of 47 specialists, while El Salvador and Israel also provided relief teams. The European Union activated its satellite monitoring system Copernicus, and the Colombian government reported having received international aid offers amounting to over $1.3 billion as of August 12.
Southern Command emphasized that the U.S. "stands in solidarity with the Colombian people during this crisis," in what represents one of the most destructive earthquakes recorded in Colombia in the past decade.
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