Israeli aid delegation begins work in Colombia following deadly earthquake
Mapping efforts and building assessments have begun in order to establish plans and priorities for the ongoing response efforts.
An IDF humanitarian delegation, known as the Alliance of Brothers, began operations in Colombia on Saturday following a devastating earthquake. The 80-person team, led by the Home Front Command in collaboration with the Defense Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry, was dispatched upon request from Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.
Colombia has only sought aid from four nations: the US, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Israel. The delegation is collaborating with local experts and authorities at various affected locations, concentrating on two significant sites where they are aiding in the search and rescue of individuals trapped under debris. One such location is the university hospital in the city, which sustained substantial damage.
Engineers from the Home Front Command are currently conducting search and rescue operations while striving to restore the damaged medical wing's functioning. Mapping exercises and assessments have commenced to determine priorities and plans for ongoing response efforts. The team is also aiding in setting up data management systems to handle situational assessments and decision-making, helping to navigate the intricate process.
Colombian authorities reported on Friday morning that approximately 400 people are still missing, nearly four days after the quake struck an area prone to seismic activity in the Chocó department along Colombia's Pacific coast. The earthquake has resulted in numerous fatalities and over 4,000 people have been documented with injuries.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
