Air cargo is continuing humanitarian operations in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela that struck the country in June.
The two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter Scale, hit outside Caracas on the evening of 24 June, causing widespread destruction and resulting in the deaths of more than 3,500 people and leaving 650,000 people in need of aid.
Amazon and Airlink respond
Amazon will support a seven-flight humanitarian air delivery operation into Caracas. The weekly flights are a collaboration between Amazon, Airlink, the US State Department, and United Nations World Food Programme.
The State Department will coordinate access with local authorities, Amazon will donate the aircraft and fuel at no cost to humanitarian organisations, Airlink will determine what goes on each flight based on nonprofit needs, and the World Food Programme will manage logistics in Venezuela.
The humanitarian air bridge is designed to prevent an aid bottleneck—as well as a so-called “second disaster” when unrequested in-kind donations overwhelm communities and divert resources from the most urgent needs.
ACS’ charter flights
Charter broker Air Charter Service (ACS) said that since the earthquakes, it has arranged charter flights for governments, aid agencies and NGOs.
ACS director for government and humanitarian services said: “We started receiving cargo and passenger requests on the Thursday morning and set about finding solutions.
“On the cargo side, a lot of the aid initially flew in on military aircraft, but our first flight into the region was early last week on a Boeing 737-800F carrying around 10 tons of vital satellite equipment, to aid communications in the country.
“Since then, we have arranged multiple charters into the country carrying aid, through our European, Asian and US offices, with cargo including medical equipment, hygiene kits, shelters, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, water tanks and a field hospital.
“We have two people on the ground in Caracas now, both Venezuelan nationals, one from our Miami office and the other from our Mexico City office.
“They are there to help coordinate our charters at the airport over the coming days and ensure the safe onward passage of the cargo.
“We have several charters booked that will depart this week, and are expecting more to confirm in the
next few days.”
WCAworld’s emergency appeal
Meanwhile, freight forwarder network WCAworld has launched an emergency appeal through the WCAworld Foundation to support communities affected by the earthquake.
Working alongside WCAworld members based in the affected regions, the WCAworld Foundation has already begun coordinating relief efforts to ensure emergency assistance reaches those most in need as quickly and efficiently as possible.
WCAworld said that with professionals already on the ground, its foundation is “uniquely positioned” to identify immediate requirements, coordinate the movement of aid and ensure donations are directed where they will have the greatest impact.
“Our members in Venezuela are already working tirelessly to support their local communities, and because of the unique structure of the WCAworld Foundation, we have been able to begin mobilising assistance immediately,” said Dan March, chief executive of WCAworld.
“Every donation received through this appeal will go directly towards helping those affected by this disaster. By working with trusted members on the ground, we can ensure support reaches exactly where it is needed most.”
LATAM Cargo continues response
In the Americas, LATAM Cargo has expanded its initial response to the earthquake and has now transported more than 300 tons of aid.
The carrier has run six freighter flights from locations such as Miami, Panama, Bogota, and Quito, alongside passenger flight operations, to enable the mobilisation of humanitarian aid from different points across the continents.
The aid includes critical medical supplies, power generators and field hospital modules. These essential items are already in Venezuelan territory and are available to the organisations responsible for delivering direct support to the affected areas.
“We are deeply proud to support Venezuela,” said Andrés Bianchi, chief executive of LATAM Cargo. “Our team showed remarkable commitment, working hand in hand with the broader ecosystem against the clock. That commitment reflects the human purpose behind our work.”
LATAM’s aid operation is run through its Solidarity Plane Programme, which transports patients, doctors, volunteers, animals, medicines, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, generating a positive and tangible impact on communities.
