The U.S. Department of State committed 5 million dollars in humanitarian assistance for Panama following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday, as the institution itself confirmed in an official statement this Saturday.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in the province of Herrera on the Azuero Peninsula, is one of the most powerful recorded in Panama in decades and has left at least 27 people with minor injuries, with no confirmed fatalities so far.
U.S. funds will be allocated to on-ground implementing organizations that coordinate relief efforts. Along with the financial disbursement, Washington deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and two Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) technical teams with 20 specialists in total, who arrived in Panamanian territory within 24 hours after the earthquake.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) provided logistical support with a Chinook CH-47 helicopter to transport tents and supplies to the Azuero region, while the Department of State also authorized the use of two helicopters from the INL program of the Panama Air and Naval Service for relief efforts.
The ambassador Kevin Cabrera maintained direct contact with the Panamanian president José Raúl Mulino to coordinate the damage assessment and emergency response.
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio summarized Washington's stance with a brief statement: "The United States stands with the people of Panama."
This Saturday, the Panamanian government declared a state of emergency and announced an initial fund of 100 million dollars for direct crisis management.
The Minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Orillac, urged the population to "stay calm" and assured: "I know these are difficult times, have full confidence, we are working for you, and today with the emergency declaration decree, we are starting to quickly activate that assistance."
The material damages are substantial: 426 homes affected and approximately 2,130 individuals displaced, according to the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc). The provinces of Los Santos, Herrera, Veraguas, and Coclé bear the greatest impact, primarily in rural areas.
The infrastructure also suffered severe blows: 419 educational centers, 20 healthcare facilities, 26 government buildings, 13 churches, seven hotels, and nine bridges were damaged.
Classes and administrative activities have been suspended nationwide, and educational authorities will determine on Monday the continuation of the school year.
By Friday night, around 147 aftershocks had been recorded, some with magnitudes of 6.6 and 6.1, according to René García, the director of the Emergency Operations Center.
U.S. assistance was complemented by a multilateral response: the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) activated a contingent financing of up to 300 million dollars and 500,000 dollars in non-repayable funds, while the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) approved an immediate donation of 250,000 dollars and a credit line of up to 50 million for the reconstruction of public infrastructure.
«The BID Group stands with the Panamanian people in this difficult time. These resources will enable the Government to quickly assist the affected families and plan for recovery,» affirmed the president of the organization, Ilan Goldfajn.
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