The U.S. Southern Command announced Saturday that it is sending additional military resources to Venezuela as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing earthquake relief mission, which was requested by the Venezuelan government and is being led by the U.S. State Department.

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Officials said a Contingency Response Element is being deployed to help Venezuelan officials assess airports, manage airfields and safely restore air traffic in areas impacted by the earthquake.

They said five U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft are expected to begin transporting the team to Venezuela starting Saturday. The deployment builds on the work already being done by a U.S. military Airfield Assessment Team alongside Venezuelan officials and the U.S. interagency response team.

Another C-17 aircraft will fly two Miami-Dade County urban search and rescue teams to Venezuela to assist with search-and-rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas, according to Steven McCloud, a spokesperson with the U.S. Southern Command.

McCloud said U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft will continue moving personnel and supplies in support of the international relief effort. A Marine Corps UH-1Y Super Huey helicopter aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale will also provide air support for relief operations.

Meanwhile, U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters and their crews from Joint Task Force-Bravo are being positioned in Curaçao and will be ready to provide additional airlift support if needed, according to McCloud.

McCloud said the U.S. Space Force is also supporting the mission by providing satellite imagery to help disaster planners identify the areas with the greatest need and prioritize life-saving assistance.

SOUTHCOM officials said planning for additional military support is continuing in coordination with the State Department, the Venezuelan government and international partners.

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