The Colombia earthquake response led by the Trump administration is expanding after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, with the United States announcing an additional $11 million in humanitarian assistance and bringing total U.S. support to $26.5 million. The effort also includes relief flights, Starlink communications kits and American urban search and rescue teams supporting Colombian authorities.
What Happened
The Trump administration is expanding its humanitarian response following the devastating earthquake in Colombia as U.S. agencies work with the Colombian government to assess urgent needs.
According to a report by America Times News Service, the Department of State announced $11 million in additional assistance, bringing total U.S. earthquake assistance to $26.5 million.
The State Department said it is coordinating with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as officials assess damage and determine where additional assistance is needed.
The U.S. response covers humanitarian food, health, protection and shelter assistance, as well as post-earthquake structural assessments.
The State Department’s August 14 announcement has also been independently corroborated by Stars and Stripes, which reported that U.S. assistance had reached $26.5 million and that American military assets were continuing to deliver relief supplies in Colombia.
$26.5 Million in Humanitarian Assistance
Additional $11 Million Announced
The latest $11 million commitment adds to the $15.5 million in assistance previously announced on August 11.
The funding is being used for food, health, protection and shelter programs, along with structural assessments conducted through humanitarian partners.
Organizations involved include Catholic Relief Services, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Organization for Migration, Miyamoto International, UNICEF, the U.N. World Food Program and World Vision.
The State Department said $3 million of the initial $15.5 million, provided through Catholic Relief Services, came from a previously announced global assistance award.
The United States has also provided $200 million to the Colombia Pooled Fund administered by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. That funding can be used for earthquake-related requirements as well as existing humanitarian needs in Colombia.
U.S. Military Helps Deliver Relief Supplies
The Department of State is also using support from U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, to transport emergency supplies from a State Department prepositioning warehouse in Miami.
The planned flights carry shelter materials as well as water and hygiene supplies. Once the supplies arrive in Colombia, the International Organization for Migration and World Food Program will oversee their distribution to communities affected by the earthquake.
Stars and Stripes reported that a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster subsequently transported and distributed lifesaving supplies to Medellín and Bogotá as the relief operation continued.
The operation also includes hundreds of Starlink kits designed to provide reliable, high-speed internet access to humanitarian organizations and Colombian government agencies working on disaster relief.
The Starlink deliveries are being coordinated with the State Department under a disaster-response memorandum of understanding signed between Starlink and the department earlier in the summer.
The use of military logistics, emergency communications and federal coordination reflects the importance of infrastructure and preparedness during major disasters. The administration’s broader infrastructure agenda has also included[major U.S. rail investment plans, although that initiative is separate from the Colombia earthquake response.
American Search and Rescue Teams Arrive
The United States has also deployed technical support teams to assist Colombia’s search and rescue operations.
The Department of State activated two urban search and rescue, or USAR, technical support teams from the fire departments of Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California.
The teams arrived in Colombia on August 12 and are providing coordination, communications and structural engineering support to Colombian government-led rescue operations.
Their involvement gives Colombian authorities additional technical resources as they continue assessing damaged structures and responding to communities affected by the earthquake.
The emergency response comes alongside the administration’s wider focus on federal disaster management and emergency preparedness, including developments involving FEMA emergency management leadership.
Support for Americans in Colombia
The Trump administration has also emphasized the safety of U.S. citizens in Colombia.
The State Department is providing consular assistance to Americans and their families in areas affected by the earthquake.
U.S. citizens in Colombia are being encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, to receive safety and security updates from the U.S. Embassy.
The department is also directing Americans to follow official State Department and U.S. Embassy Bogotá social media accounts for additional information.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs maintains a call center for Americans seeking information or assistance connected to the earthquake.
Colombia Faces a Major Recovery Challenge
The scale of the earthquake has created a significant recovery challenge for Colombia.
Associated Press reporting found that the August 10 earthquake devastated parts of western Colombia, with particularly severe damage reported in cities including Pereira, Cali and Quibdo. The Colombian government reported thousands of injuries and extensive destruction of homes.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has also asked President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs affecting Colombian products, arguing that economic relief could help businesses dealing with the consequences of the earthquake. There had been no immediate response from the Trump administration to that request.
The request adds an economic dimension to the U.S.-Colombia relationship as the country moves from immediate rescue operations toward longer-term recovery.
What Happens Next
The immediate priority for the Colombia earthquake response remains delivering food, shelter, water, hygiene supplies and other lifesaving assistance to affected communities.
U.S. agencies are expected to continue working with Colombian authorities and international humanitarian organizations as officials assess damage and identify additional needs.
The combination of $26.5 million in U.S. assistance, military transportation, Starlink communications equipment and American technical rescue teams gives Colombia additional capacity during the emergency phase.
The response also highlights the broader role of U.S. humanitarian assistance in major international disasters. As Colombia begins the difficult transition from rescue operations to reconstruction, continued coordination between Washington, Bogotá and international relief organizations will be central to helping affected communities recover.
The United States has committed $26.5 million in total assistance, including $11 million in additional humanitarian aid.
The U.S. is providing humanitarian supplies, military transport, search and rescue support and Starlink communications kits.