The Department of State has detailed an initial U.S. earthquake response: $15.5 million for emergency aid and building assessments, together with a Disaster Assistance Response Team whose first members began arriving in Colombia on August 10.
Funding for four immediate needs
The initial announcement, published August 10 at 5:09:04 p.m., commits $15.5 million to emergency shelter, food, protection and post-earthquake structural assessments.
Of that amount, $3 million is channelled through Catholic Relief Services under an existing global award. The release does not yet provide a geographic allocation or a beneficiary count.
The DART assesses and coordinates on the ground
At 1:15:19 p.m. on August 11, the Department of State announced that the DART had been activated the previous day. Its release, updated at 5:30:23 p.m., says members began arriving in Colombia on August 10.
These humanitarian experts assess conditions and needs, lead the U.S. response and coordinate with the embassy, Colombian authorities and partner organizations. A partial arrival does not mean that the full team or all aid is already deployed.
Five partner organizations
The response names Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration, Miyamoto International, the World Food Programme and World Vision.
The release does not detail assigned locations, volumes already delivered or a complete intervention timetable.
The $200 million OCHA fund is not a new earthquake-only allocation
The Department of State also cites an existing $200 million U.S. contribution to the OCHA-managed Colombia Humanitarian Fund. That fund may support both earthquake response and earlier needs.
The entire $200 million must therefore not be added to the $15.5 million or described as a new allocation dedicated exclusively to the disaster.
What remains to be measured
No official account yet says how many people have received this aid, where assessments have started or how much funding is already being used on the ground.
Further reporting must distinguish announced funding, personnel who have actually arrived, completed deliveries and people reached.