WILLEMSTAD – The United States is using the Cooperative Security Location, the CSL, on Curaçao for the relief operation following the severe earthquakes in Venezuela. The US consulate in Willemstad reports that Southern Command, SOUTHCOM, is mobilizing resources through Curaçao for humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
SOUTHCOM is supporting a relief operation led by the US Department of State. The Venezuelan interim government has formally requested American assistance. Major General Kevin Jarrard has arrived in Caracas to coordinate the deployment.
The US aid package totals 150 million dollars. Of that amount, 50 million dollars will go to organizations including the World Food Programme and International Medical Corps. An additional 100 million dollars will go to a joint United Nations emergency fund. Washington is also sending a disaster response team with two specialized search and rescue units from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles.
The US military is primarily providing transport and logistics. SOUTHCOM is deploying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to bring aid workers, rescue teams, equipment, and emergency supplies to affected areas. The aircraft are also being used for damage assessments and to support search operations.
US military aircraft active
On Thursday evening, a US military aircraft was active over Curaçao. Screenshots from Flightradar24 show VORTEX31, a Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey of the United States Marine Corps with registration number 168643.
The aircraft was visible at 7:51 PM south of Curaçao, at 5,475 feet and with a ground speed of 228 knots. A second screenshot shows the same Osprey half an hour later, at 8:21 PM, off the Venezuelan coast near Catia La Mar and Maiquetía, close to Caracas. At that point the aircraft was flying at 5,025 feet.
The MV-22B is a tiltrotor aircraft that can cover large distances quickly in airplane mode, but can also take off and land like a helicopter. The type is used for the rapid transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies to hard-to-reach locations.
What people, goods, or relief supplies VORTEX31 had on board and exactly where the aircraft landed has not been officially disclosed.
