The UK has launched an immediate humanitarian response to the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, deploying specialist search and rescue personnel alongside an initial £2 million
package of emergency funding to support life-saving operations.
A 68-member UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team, including six highly trained search dogs, departed today aboard a Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton. The deployment will assist efforts to locate and rescue people trapped beneath collapsed buildings and damaged infrastructure.
The aircraft is transporting specialist rescue equipment, including drones capable of assessing structural damage, identifying hazards and supporting safe search operations. RAF personnel, aircrew and logistics specialists worked rapidly to prepare the mission and ensure critical capabilities reached the affected region without delay.
The flight also includes members of the UK's humanitarian field team, comprising supply chain, humanitarian and security experts, with additional personnel set to join the response in Venezuela to strengthen coordination with local authorities and international partners.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“My thoughts are with the people of Venezuela following this week’s devastating earthquakes. The UK stands in solidarity with all those affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.
We are making £2 million of emergency humanitarian funding available and are working closely with international partners to ensure vital support reaches those most in need as quickly as possible”.
The UK ISAR deployment brings together firefighters and rescue specialists from 14 Fire and Rescue Services across the UK, led by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The team has extensive international disaster response experience, including deployments following the earthquakes in Türkiye and Morocco in 2023.
As part of the UK's National Resilience capability, UK ISAR remains on permanent standby to respond rapidly to major overseas disasters, working alongside local emergency services and international partners during the critical search and rescue phase.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
"The UK has acted quickly to support Venezuela following these devastating earthquakes.
"Our specialist search and rescue teams are deploying to assist life-saving operations, while our £2 million humanitarian package will help meet urgent needs on the ground. We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure support reaches affected communities as rapidly as possible."
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funds the UK's international search and rescue capability, ensuring teams are trained, equipped and ready to deploy at short notice to support countries affected by natural disasters.
Alongside the rescue deployment, an advance team from the UK's Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) is travelling to Venezuela to assess urgent health needs and determine how further UK medical support can best contribute to the wider humanitarian response.
Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:
“The UK today has sent support to Venezuela following these devastating earthquakes.
Our specialist search and rescue teams are deploying to help save lives, and we are providing a £2 million package to support the humanitarian response.
We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure help reached those affected as fast as possible”.
The UK's £2 million funding package will support immediate humanitarian assistance and strengthen the wider international response. The UK continues to play a leading role in global disaster response by supporting international emergency financing mechanisms, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Funding from both mechanisms has already been allocated to support rapid relief efforts in Venezuela, enabling local and international partners to deliver life-saving assistance to communities affected by the earthquakes. Photo by Davevzla, Wikimedia commons.
