29/06/2026 10:43 - Internacionales
The earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026 have become a critical challenge for the new US foreign policy doctrine in the Western Hemisphere. With a toll of at least 1,450 dead, more than 3,150 injured, and approximately 70,000 missing according to consolidated official figures, the humanitarian crisis is testing the response capacity of an administration that has drastically restructured its international aid apparatus.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the response as "big, quick, effective, and whole-of-government", mobilizing three specialized urban search and rescue teams and committing an assistance fund of US$ 150 million, which experts consulted by The Guardian describe as the largest financial deployment seen in the first 24 hours of a disaster.
The DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) is a specialized US government team deployed rapidly to international emergencies. It includes:
For context: This elite unit has responded to major disasters worldwide, including earthquakes in Turkey (2023) and Haiti (2021).
The Trump administration dismantled USAID (United States Agency for International Development), transferring all disaster assistance to the State Department. The consequences:
USAID was created in 1961 by President Kennedy and had been the main US agency for international development and humanitarian aid for over 60 years.
The humanitarian operation arrives in a country undergoing a radical political transformation. In January 2026, US special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in an operation that brought him to the United States to face charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy. His successor, Delcy Rodríguez, has demonstrated a much more receptive stance toward Washington.
"They had a tremendous earthquake, a lot of people died in Caracas and we have a lot of people there helping", Trump declared on Friday, adding that "we have an excellent relationship with Venezuela since we captured Maduro. We've taken out millions of barrels of oil and have paid for the war many times over. But the most important thing... they're making more money than ever".
Rodríguez confirmed on Saturday that dozens of people have been rescued alive, describing the situation as a moment of joy for families who can reunite with their loved ones.
| Rescue | Location | Team Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Father and son (4 days under rubble) | Caraballeda, La Guaira | France and USA |
| Mother and 9-month-old baby | Caraballeda | Brigade USA-01 |
| Moisés, 11 years old (under 3m of rubble) | Caraballeda | Colombia |
| 60-year-old woman (86 hours) | La Guaira | International teams |
| 18-day-old baby and mother (32 hours) | Caracas | International teams |
Geographic Note: La Guaira is a coastal state near Caracas (Venezuela's capital), about 30 km from the city center. Caraballeda is a coastal city within La Guaira state, heavily affected by the earthquakes.
have sent rescue teams to Venezuela
specialists in search and rescue
certified canines in operations
Sam Vigersky, International Affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former director of DART teams in Africa, developed a comparative analysis showing that the State Department is maintaining the pace of previous responses:
Similar DART and USAR deployment
Reference framework for rapid response
US$ 150M in 24h - fastest commitment seen
"Obviously there's a political element with Venezuela. They have this relationship with the interim government, it's in their interest to see them succeed and be stable", Vigersky noted.
Susan Reichle, former USAID counselor who worked on the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, warned that "the first 72 hours after an earthquake are crucial to reach survivors". While she acknowledged the government acted quickly by declaring the disaster and activating DART, she expressed concern about lost links with local organizations after the cuts.
Trump's approach has reframed foreign aid as a mutual benefit pact rather than charity, focusing on reducing bilateral agreements and cutting the US humanitarian assistance infrastructure abroad.
Schools will remain closed until July 6, 2026 while search and rescue operations continue. La Guaira state is the most affected area with more than 774 collapsed buildings.
Source: The Guardian
Alfredo S. Quiroga
