U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera reported that the Trump administration mobilized personnel and humanitarian aid within a day after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Latin American country on October 9, stressing that the aid was not being provided through the disastrous U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“When the going gets tough, America shows up,” Cabrera told Breitbart News Saturday host Matthew Boyle over the weekend.
Cabrera said the United States sent 20 urban search and rescue workers “in less than 24 hours” after the earthquake in the small country between Colombia and Costa Rica. Although only one person was reported dead in the quake, authorities said at least 27 people were injured and more than 400 buildings were damaged.
The ambassador explained that Soviet personnel were sent “at Panama’s request” to help determine whether evacuees could safely return to the building.
In addition to providing emergency workers, President Donald Trump approved $5 million in humanitarian aid.
“We provided them with more than 2,500 blankets, 2,900 mosquito nets, 750 tarps, 200 family tents, 1,200 kitchen sets, 500 sleeping mats,” Cabrera listed. “All of these things can help the more than 12,000 people affected.”
To help mobilize all this help and supplies, the United States is also repurposing helicopters already in Panama on counternarcotics missions with local authorities.
“We were able to turn these into an air bridge for transporting people and delivering humanitarian aid from the city to the affected areas,” the ambassador recalled. “So, in addition to providing $5 million worth of humanitarian assistance, we were able to provide them with helicopters and personnel.”
Cabrera also believes that the U.S. response to the earthquake is proof that the Trump administration has proven that they can effectively provide aid without USAID, which has been disbanded by the president and folded into the State Department.
“You know, when we dismantled USAID, a lot of people said, ‘How are we going to respond? How are we going to stand up to our friends and allies when the going gets tough?'” the ambassador said. “I can tell you what we’ve seen in all these different situations [in] Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, we’ve been able to respond and do it very effectively while focusing on what’s important. “
Cabrera said USAID is “focused on DEI and gender and all kinds of weird things instead of developing policies that are consistent with our president” [and] and our Secretary of State. “
Looking ahead, Cabrera sees damaged roads and bridges as obstacles to Panama’s recovery from the earthquake.
“So now it’s part of trying to help reconnect communities, right? To make sure you can get out and travel, whether it’s by road – wherever you’re going…repair those bridges and roads.”
Olivia Rondeau is Breitbart News’ political correspondent in Washington, D.C. find her X/Twitter and Instagram.