Amazon.com has announced its support for a humanitarian airlift operation consisting of seven cargo flights bound for Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. This initiative is a response to the two earthquakes that struck the north of the country on June 24th, a disaster that has left over 650,000 people in need of assistance.

The weekly flights are made possible through collaboration between Amazon.com, the aviation humanitarian organization Airlink, the U.S. Department of State, and the United Nations World Food Programme. The U.S. Department of State will handle coordination with local authorities for access, Amazon.com will provide aircraft and fuel free of charge to humanitarian groups, Airlink will determine the cargo for each flight based on the needs of non-profit organizations, and the World Food Programme will manage logistics within Venezuela.

Bettina Stix, Global Director of Community Impact at Amazon, stated that when over six million people are affected and entire neighborhoods are reduced to rubble, the rapid delivery of supplies is critical. This aerial bridge delivers materials to trusted local non-profits in Venezuela, enabling them to be put to immediate use serving those in the most severely impacted areas.

This partnership aims to prevent the backlog of aid and the so-called "second disaster," where unsolicited material donations overwhelm communities and divert resources from the most urgent needs. Nearly a decade ago, Amazon.com launched its disaster relief program, leveraging its logistics network and air capabilities to deliver emergency supplies to those most in need. The company, beginning with its first relief flight for Hurricane Maria, has now donated and transported over 26 million emergency items in response to more than 200 disasters worldwide.

In addition to air transport, Amazon.com has deployed rapid-response technology systems to the disaster zone. These are self-contained units with critical technology like Wi-Fi, helping hospitals and shelters restore communication links. In La Guaira, near the epicenter, these systems are aiding staff across hospital and shelter locations to communicate. Furthermore, Amazon.com is providing ongoing support to over a dozen local non-profit organizations and, within days of the earthquakes, donated and delivered over 500,000 emergency items including tarps, water filters, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, and diapers.