Israeli Rescue Delegation Begins Search-And-Rescue in Cali After Colombia 7.4 Earthquake

The appearance of members of the Israeli military mission in Colombia sparked a wave of ridicule and widespread criticism among Colombian activists after videos circulated that were claimed to document their participation in search and rescue operations following the devastating earthquake that struck the western part of the country. One clip showed a soldier pretending to be serious and compassionate, before hiding inside a hole in military clothing that looked clean and neat, in a scene critics described as closer to a publicity stunt than a real rescue operation. Also read The clip circulated after Ronni Kaplan, the Israeli Army spokesperson for media speaking Spanish, Portuguese, and Asian languages, posted a clip of the mission on X, saying they were working alongside firefighters, the army, and local authorities in different sites in Cali, confirming that Israel “stands with” Colombia in the aftermath of the disaster. Israel had sent a military and aid delegation comprising about 80 officers, soldiers, and specialists from the Home Front and the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs to participate in search and rescue operations under the rubble, after the earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude, which left hundreds of victims and missing persons several days ago. Rescue clips turn into material for mockery But the circulated clips quickly turned into material for ridicule on social media, as activists criticized what they described as exaggerated theatrical performance, questioning the usefulness of filming showy scenes amid a humanitarian disaster, especially the soldiers appearing in clean military uniforms despite their announced participation in rubble-search operations. Colombian activist Derly Lopez mocked one of the clips, saying that the Israeli soldiers who always appear in their neat military attire in videos “had a brilliant idea for staging a scene,” referring to one of them pretending to be emotional and hiding inside a hole. Activist Aras’s account also mocked the scene, imagining Israelis arriving at disaster areas caused by earthquakes in Colombia and filming their presence, before withdrawing after they ate “3 Doritos chips only,” in a comment reflecting the level of ridicule that accompanied the video. Earthquake as a platform for propaganda?.. Debate about the Israeli mission Criticism extended to other Colombian figures, including journalist and international political analyst Diana Carolina Alfonso Pereira, who harshly attacked Kaplan, linking his appearance in Colombia to the Israeli war on Gaza, questioning the purpose of his presence and participation in covering the rescue operations. The criticisms were not limited to activists; former Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the Israelis left the scene without rescuing anyone, despite urging them to stay at the disaster sites, noting that people were still screaming under the rubble. The appearance of the mission members also sparked wide controversy, as activists questioned how they could stay in clean clothes despite their announced involvement in rescue operations under the rubble, and activist Diner wrote that “not a speck of dust is on their uniforms,” considering that the circulated scenes reflect an attempt to present a propaganda image of the mission. Similarly, Colombian political activist Carlos Alberto Cario Arenas attacked the Israeli spokesman Ronen Kaplan, accusing him of exploiting Colombians’ suffering for propaganda and demanding that he stop using the earthquake catastrophe in an attempt to improve the image of the Israeli army. The wave of ridicule continued on social platforms, as activists said the Israeli military uniform seemed to have “exceptional technology” since it remained free of dust and dirt despite hours of rescue operations, while others called for the mission to leave and urged international press to verify what happened on the ground. Colombian activists consensus: these clips are part of ongoing attempts to produce visual content serving military propaganda, considering it an attempt to use the humanitarian tragedy to polish the image of the Israeli army, in light of the Israeli war on Gaza and accusations against Israel of war crimes and serious violations against civilians. International criticism of the Israeli mission While ridicule continued locally, criticisms crossed Colombian borders to reach activists and analysts in other countries who saw in the circulated clips an example of using humanitarian disasters in propaganda content. Spanish analyst and writer Victor Ijo stated that the Israeli soldiers arrived in Colombia five days after the earthquake, arguing that chances of saving neighborhoods had greatly diminished by that time, and accusing the mission of using the earthquake as a backdrop to film clips meant, in his view, to improve Israel’s image and to deflect criticisms against it due to the war in Gaza. Argentina’s lawyer and politician César Biondini mocked the clip of the soldier hiding in the hole, saying that the Israeli soldiers appeared in videos in clean clothes and were not seen performing actual rescue work, wondering about the nature of the mission they came for and the reasons for carrying weapons and their qualifications for emergency work. Mexican activist Luisa Hernandez praised the Mexican rescue teams known as the “Tonal” (the Armadillo), saying that they have worked for decades in disaster relief efforts around the world, criticizing what she described as turning rescue operations into propaganda scenes. She added that filming inside rubble sites could put participants at risk, at a time when every minute is crucial for the chances of rescuing those trapped. Six days after the earthquake, hopes of finding survivors had waned, while rescue teams continued to search the debris for the missing. The disaster’s toll rose to 294 dead and 320 missing, as rescue and cleanup operations continued in the western part of Colombia.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res... The death toll from last week’s powerful earthquake in Colombia has risen to at least 314, while 262 people remain missing, President Abelardo De La Espriella said on Wednesday. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on 10 August, causing widespread destruction from the Pacific coast through the country’s coffee-growing region and major cities including Cali and Pereira. The latest figures mark a further increase from the weekend, when authorities reported around 290 deaths. Thousands of people have also been injured and tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction challenge grows The disaster has severely damaged homes and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, roads and water systems. Cali, Pereira and the Chocó region are among the areas hardest hit. Attention has increasingly shifted from rescue operations towards humanitarian assistance and reconstruction as the chances of finding more survivors diminish. The economic cost is also mounting. De La Espriella said on Tuesday that preliminary estimates put losses from the earthquake at around 30 trillion Colombian pesos, or $9.6 billion, including damage to buildings and infrastructure. The earthquake represents the first major crisis for De La Espriella’s administration, with the government facing the challenge of providing shelter and assistance to affected communities while rebuilding infrastructure across a large part of western Colombia. The situation is particularly difficult in Chocó, where existing poverty, limited transport links and armed conflict have complicated relief efforts. Around 69,000 people in the region have been displaced or otherwise affected, according to recent assessments.

Tragedy Albares confirms the first Spanish national dead in the Colombia earthquake. Three days of national mourning in Colombia for the tragedy that already leaves 188 fatalities. Colombia, De la Espriella draws inspiration from Bukele to restore order and authority in Colombia. The gas cylinder loaded with explosives, bearing the FARC initials, remained in the middle of the road. Also the signs beside the road. "61 years of dignified struggle. Block Commander Jorge Suárez Briceño. FARC-EP," reads one of them. "And it is still there, a week later, tangible testimony of the reality we live in these territories," a local farmer tells EL MUNDO, tired of bearing the criminal yoke of the guerrillas. It was last Wednesday the 12th, just two days after the terrible earthquake that affected 448 municipalities in Colombia, when units of the Ninth Brigade of the Army responded to the urgent call from neighbors of Argelia, in the Huila department, asking to remove the improvised bomb. No one warned that it was a decoy by the FARC, alias Calarcá, an ally of the government of Gustavo Petro, to ambush and kill soldiers on the road. They killed two uniformed personnel and injured ten others. Four days later, in Ábrego (Norte de Santander), the ELN killed a service member and left five others injured in a drone attack. Not satisfied with the bloodshed, while they were attending to the victims at the town hospital, the narcoterrorists sent their unmanned devices to fly over the hospital and intimidate the medical staff. "You are great, Lord. Father loved, Lord, Our Father. Lord, you are great. Lord, beloved father, put your hand. Stop him, Lord, drive away all that evil," a nurse can be heard saying in one of the videos recorded by witnesses and shared on social networks. The rapid intervention of the military planes removed the danger. 48 hours later and a few kilometers from Ábrego, on the road between Cúcuta and Ocaña, the same guerrilla group kidnapped three agents of the DIJIN (Direccion de Investigacion Criminal e Interpol). This chain of attacks again demonstrates that the guerrillas give no quarter, that they will continue to kill, kidnap, and extort despite the grave crisis of every order suffered by Colombia. They have in their sights the new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who made fighting crime with a hard hand one of his main electoral banners, in addition to eliminating any possibility of prolonging Petro’s Peace Total policy, which strengthened criminal organizations of all kinds. They have the advantage of confronting military forces that Petro’s movement has left very weakened, with empty pockets — a deficit of 14 trillion pesos — and the Intelligence corps operating at minimal capacity. To begin reclaiming lost ground, the right-wing president brought Colombia into the Trump-era Americas Shield, created to fight narco-terrorism, in which Ecuador already appeared, a key ally along the shared border. He took another step, repudiated by Petro’s opposition, by authorizing direct U.S. intervention, in line with recent statements by the top Pentagon official, Pete Hegseth. "Bogotá has already requested that the Department of War join Colombia in its fight against narco-terrorism, authorizing joint military operations to destroy the terrorists and their networks of terror," Hegseth stated. The White House had previously announced a one-billion-dollar aid package for security, coinciding with De la Espriella’s inauguration. "It is unlikely there will be military operations involving Marines in Colombia because the Constitution does not allow it and the opposition would be eager to have all the details. It would be a problem for the president and his Defense minister, and the Colombian armed forces are well trained, have the experience and training. What they lack is the necessary technical equipment and the Intelligence provided by the United States," explains to this newspaper the military analyst and retired colonel Luis Alberto Villamarín. "What they should do is conduct joint operations with Colombia and Ecuador, both at the border and at sea, against drug cartels and narco-terrorism, especially against the FARC, the guerrilla that operates in the area," he adds. The same would be needed at the other end of the country to confront the ELN, which moves with total impunity along a large part of the vast border with Venezuela due to its alliance with chavismo. "The Department of War and our Ministry of Defense know that Caracas cannot be trusted because the mafia remains in power," Villamarín adds. "What they can do is intensify Colombian military action and special Intelligence operations on the other side of the border. The United States has CIA units and other security agencies infiltrated in Venezuela and there will be incursions, perhaps with the participation of U.S. agencies, but all will be secret," he concludes.

Two men observe a small building that is almost completely destroyed. One of them, Antoni David, 26, goes inside. Some time later, the other does the same, wearing a motorcycle helmet for protection. Outside, another man squeezes between debris and a fallen concrete slab; he has a small handsaw in his hands. They are rubble scavengers, some after metals, others after objects that might have value. In the building in question, the first floor has disappeared. The second-floor floor was projected forward and arched; the edges in contact with the ground formed a kind of triangular passage to the ground floor. Debris is everywhere around and inside the building, which housed a business. The helmeted man climbs onto a fallen column with cracks that supported the first floor. Antoni leaves with a car jack for motorcycles and batteries. Scenes like this and others of men dragging metals spread through Pereira, Colombia, one of the cities most affected by the strong earthquake that hit the country last Monday (the 10th). Information on Friday (the 14th) points to 94 dead just in the city and 140,000 affected — about 29% of the municipality’s inhabitants. The latest countrywide update counts 294 dead and nearly 4,000 injured. In another part of Pereira, on Wednesday (the 12th), while a rescue operation took place amid the rubble of a building, two men separated metals from chunks of concrete, destroyed furniture, and clothes scattered on the street. From time to time, one of them joined the volunteer group removing debris from the focal point of action where rescuers tried to reach a buried person — who was not saved. The search for metals that can be sold for recycling, such as aluminum and copper wire, is not exclusive to this post-earthquake zone; it is a reality in other large Latin American cities. The recovery of these metals for recycling was not the previous job of the scavengers with whom Folha spoke; but it has become an emergency income source for those who lost everything or almost everything. One of them, who was looking for metals in the collapsed building that opens this report, says he worked in construction and could not stay still without income. Meanwhile, Antoni’s actions — who says he does not know how to recycle — led to a brief clash with neighbors; the Venezuelan who has lived in Colombia for 10 years was asking for some kind of reward for rescuing items from inside the building. The neighbors took back the crowbar and Antoni took the batteries — he was stopped a few meters ahead by motorcycle police and, shortly after, a new clash occurred. Not all scavengers go so far to recycle. Yolian Fernando Vera, 38, a car washer who saw part of his house collapse and his workplace fall, says he does not risk going to the metals, collecting only what is available on the street. He also sets an ethical limit and does not look for copper wires in the constructions. On a day of this type of work, in a devastated city scene, Folha heard from two scavengers that it was possible to make 12,000 to 15,000 Colombian pesos — equivalent to about R$ 20 to R$ 25. The situation shows that, in disasters like the major earthquake in Colombia, vulnerability can quickly intensify. In addition, the chance of recycling and any money only materializes with a buyer. This Saturday (the 15th), Yolian carried a bag of metals without knowing whether he would be able to sell them in the midst of a Pereira area heavily affected by the tremor. The car washer says he walked with the load from the city’s airport, now closed and severely destroyed by the earthquake, to the selling point — a direct route of almost 6 km. After Yolian, another man with metals followed in the same direction. A third moved to the same place dragging a metallic pile with the help of an improvised plank. A few minutes later, Yolian walks back. He shows how much the five kilograms of metal he carried on his back yielded: two thousand pesos, or about R$ 3.

BOGOTA — Search teams worked through the rubble of collapsed buildings in western Colombia on Sunday, nearly a week after a powerful earthquake devastated cities and towns across the country's west, killing hundreds and leaving many more missing, injured or homeless. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck Monday morning in San Jose del Palmar, causing severe damage from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities including Cali and Pereira. Official estimates issued late on Saturday put the death toll at around 290, with 140 people still missing and nearly 4,000 injured. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in Cali and Pereira, where apartment blocks, homes, churches, schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, emergency workers continued searching unstable piles of concrete and twisted metal on Sunday as rescue efforts increasingly gave way to the recovery of bodies. Aftershocks have added to the danger for crews working in damaged neighborhoods and for residents still unable to return home. As hopes of finding more survivors dimmed, the relief operation was expanding. In Bogota, the capital, a stadium has been turned into the country's biggest donation collection center, with volunteers working around the clock to sort and load food, clothing, medicine and other basic supplies for affected areas. Coordinating organization Sencia said more than 7,000 volunteers had helped dispatch 700 tons of aid over five days. In Pereira, authorities were also extending emergency help to injured pets and distributing donated animal food, underscoring the wider strain on families whose incomes and homes have been upended by the disaster. The quake is the first major crisis facing President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster and now faces the task of overseeing relief and reconstruction. De La Espriella said on Sunday that Colombian billionaire banker Jaime Gilinski, who also controls food company Nutresa, would donate 150 billion Colombian pesos ($47.75 million) to rebuild hospitals and schools in Gilinski's hometown Cali. — Reuters

- i24NEWS - International - Earthquake in Colombia: Israeli rescuers begin their operations Earthquake in Colombia: Israeli rescuers begin their operations The Tsahal teams participate in searches among the rubble and must also distribute water and food to the affected. An Israeli delegation of 80 people began its search-and-rescue operations in Colombia after the powerful earthquake that struck the country. Named “Brit Re’im” (“Alliance of Friends”), the mission includes soldiers and officers from the Tsahal Home Front Command, as well as representatives from the Israeli Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministries. The team had left Israel on Thursday evening. Israeli rescuers have notably been deployed to sites of collapsed buildings to work alongside Colombian teams. Tsahal’s Spanish-speaking spokesperson, Reserve Major Roni Kaplan, emphasized Israel’s experience in urban search-and-rescue operations, especially after missile strikes that left civilians under the rubble. “All the knowledge developed for Israeli citizens, we now put at the disposal of Colombian citizens,” he explained, adding that he hopes the delegation can “make its small contribution.” The Israeli mission is working in close coordination with local emergency services to participate in the search for potential survivors. Besides operations in the rubble, the delegation must also distribute food and water to the quake’s victims. Kaplan stressed the willingness of the Israeli teams to act concretely: “Hope is not something we should simply wait for. It is something we must work for.”

Colombian and Israeli rescuers working among the rubble (Photo: FDI) The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) rescue delegation is already in Colombia, working with local teams to try to find survivors of last Monday's violent earthquake. According to reports, the team arrived in the South American nation on Friday and has already begun operating in collaboration with Colombian authorities and officials. Israeli experts, IDF spokespersons noted, are working at two of the main earthquake-affected areas and are collaborating in locating and rescuing people trapped, “together with numerous local volunteers.” Abelardo de la Espriella, the new president of Colombia, said he had “a very warm and enriching conversation” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom he expressed his “deep gratitude for all the humanitarian aid and for the rescuers” sent “in these very difficult moments.” “This is a new era for the relations between Colombia and Israel: a relationship based on friendship, solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect,” the South American leader wrote on social media. De la Espriella, a longtime supporter of Israel—announced the relocation of the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights—stated that the two countries are allies and “always friends.” The latest reports indicate that 294 people have died from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10, and more than three hundred people remain missing. The president announced in the last hours an economic emergency plan to assist the affected. In the meantime, Israeli specialists are carrying out work to map and assess the buildings damaged by the earthquake, also in cooperation with local authorities, to contribute to the assessment of the situation and determine priorities for the response efforts. Moreover, they are helping local authorities establish a data management system to support the management of the situation assessment and decision-making. The Israeli delegation will continue to operate on the ground “and will make its knowledge, experience, and capabilities available to the Colombian authorities,” with the aim of “providing the greatest possible assistance to save lives and address the earthquake’s consequences,” IDF spokespeople concluded. An Israeli team also traveled to Venezuela to assist local authorities in rescue and reconstruction efforts after the devastating double earthquake in June. The delegation was even hosted by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, and a cautious diplomatic reconciliation opened between the two countries. Israel Economic is a new journalistic perspective in Spanish on science and technology, economy, and defense from one of the Mediterranean and Middle East’s nerve centers. Israel Economic’s news and commentary can be reproduced in whole or in part as long as the source is cited and a link to the original article is inserted. For inquiries, [email protected] © 2025 Israel Económico - Powered by.

An Israeli rescue delegation landed Friday in Cali, Colombia. Following instructions from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, an advance team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was waiting in Cali to receive the delegation and coordinate the rescue efforts following the recent devastating earthquake that hit the country. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, immediately upon landing, MFA representative Ambassador Alon Lavi and commander of the IDF rescue unit, Brig. Gen. Yossi Pinto, departed for the city of Cali to obtain a situational assessment and survey the relevant rescue sites. The teams are expected to begin rescue operations and humanitarian assistance in the coming hours. Israel's new ambassador to Colombia, Vivian Aisen, has received her credentials from the Colombian government and is expected to arrive in Colombia this coming Monday to join the rescue mission. As of Thursday, the death toll in the 7.4-magnitude earthquake was at 281 people. In addition, 3,971 people have been injured and 379 are missing. (Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)

An Israeli delegation of 80 people has begun its search and rescue operations in Colombia after the powerful earthquake that struck the country. Named “Brit Re’im” (“Alliance of Friends”), the mission includes soldiers and officers from the IDF’s Home Front Command, as well as representatives from the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. The team had left Israel on Thursday evening. Despite dwindling survival chances, rescuers and volunteers continued Friday to sift through mountains of rubble in Colombia, seeking the missing from an earthquake that the president described as an “apocalyptic situation.” Colombia clings to the tenuous hope of pulling survivors from the debris, as Saturday marks the sixth day of rescue operations. The odor of decomposing bodies lingers in the most devastated neighborhoods. In several parts of the country, where the presence of survivors is ruled out, construction machinery has begun clearing the debris, while funerals are multiplying. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck several cities along the Pacific coast and the coffee region in the country’s west, left 287 dead, about 4,000 injured, and 379 missing, according to authorities. “The situation is apocalyptic,” President Abelardo de la Espriella said from Pereira, one of the cities hardest hit by the disaster. He conducted brief visits to the affected areas, where he promised rental assistance for people left homeless. The former anti-elite campaigner also proposed a “Marshall Plan” — a reference to the American aid program in Europe after World War II — for this department, one of the poorest in Colombia, long “abandoned to its fate by centralism.”

A contingent of 82 rescuers from the Israel Defense Forces arrived in Cali to join the efforts to search for survivors at the locations where emergency agencies are still racing against time after the earthquake that affected several buildings in the city. The team belongs to the Rescue and Salvage Unit of the Civil Defense Command of the Israel Defense Forces and has specialized capabilities to intervene in collapsed structures and support the decisions that must be made during search operations. Ronni Kaplan, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, explained that the mission is comprised of rescue and salvage personnel, structural engineers, and technologists. The latter arrived with tools and specialized software to contribute to the analysis of the structures and improve on-site decision-making. Coordinated work with Colombian agencies Upon arrival, the contingent held a meeting with Cali’s relief agencies and subsequently moved to the points where their specialized assistance was required. “We arrived and had a meeting with the Fire Department and immediately went to the sites where we were assigned, in accordance with the advisory needs they required. There we connected and coordinated with the rescue teams and began the work in parallel,” Kaplan explained. The spokesperson also highlighted cooperation with the Colombian teams and the participation of volunteers who remain at the earthquake-affected sites. “We are here, above all, to express the solidarity of the people of Israel with the people of Colombia,” Kaplan stated, who assured that the team works continuously with the various national rescue bodies. Israel sends a message of solidarity In addition to technical support, the mission aims to accompany the families affected by the emergency. The Israeli team noted that its experience in disaster situations will be placed at the service of Colombian authorities and rescuers as long as there is a possibility of finding people alive. “In Israel we have learned that in the face of tragedy we cannot despair, but must take responsibility. We know how difficult what is happening is, and we have come here to be with you and try to move this forward,” Kaplan said. The arrival of the 82 specialists strengthens search and rescue operations in Cali, especially in collapsed buildings where technical knowledge is needed to assess risks and determine the best intervention options.

Since the day of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia and triggered a large-scale humanitarian emergency, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar published a message directed at Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula, offering assistance to “help Colombia in whatever is necessary.” The proposal ultimately became a concrete rescue and assessment mission deployed on Colombian soil. Likewise, on the same day as that earthquake, and strengthening diplomatic ties, the Colombian government, led by the current president of the Republic, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a mountainous territory located among Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, occupied by Israel (according to the prevailing UN position and that of many member states, through UN Security Council Resolution 497, issued in June 1967 during the Six-Day War) and whose importance is strategic, political, and military. The decision to accept international arrival came on August 12, when the new head of UNGRD, David Tamayo, announced that Colombia would accept international teams certified under INSARAG standards. The following day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially ordered the dispatch of a relief mission. The official statement indicated that “the State of Israel shares the pain of the families of the victims and will provide comprehensive assistance to the State of Colombia,” marking the moment when aid moved from a diplomatic offer to an organized, concrete operation by the Israeli state. Since August 14, a delegation from Israel’s Civil Defense Command has landed in Cali, led by Brigadier General Yossi Pinto. In an interview with La FM Fin de Semana, Roni Kaplan, adviser to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, provided details about their support mission, its funding, and missions conducted by Israel in other countries affected by natural crises, such as Venezuela. Israel sent 82 soldiers and specialists to Colombia. The Israeli delegation consists of 82 soldiers and officers from the Israel Defense Forces, under the command of the Civil Defense Command and its National Rescue and Salvage Unit. The group is divided into three main areas: rescuers, engineers, and technicians. “Each of the teams is working on different missions that were assigned to us almost 40 hours after we arrived; they were assigned to us through the Risk Management Secretariat here in the Cali area,” Kaplan stated. According to Kaplan, the teams began receiving missions shortly after arrival and are mainly working in Cali. One of their tasks is to inspect buildings damaged by the earthquake, especially healthcare and educational structures, along with local authorities. “Israel seeks to transform solidarity into action,” Kaplan asserted as he explained the mission’s purpose, which is to directly support in places where needs resulting from the emergency still exist. The operation is conducted in coordination with firefighters, the Risk Management Secretariat, and the Cali City Hall, in addition to other agencies that intervene depending on conditions in each area. Who pays for the Israeli rescue mission? One aspect Kaplan explained was the mission’s financing. He emphasized that the costs are not borne by Colombia or by the mayors. “All expenses are borne by the Government of Israel,” he stated. The delegation received an official directive from the Israeli government and is led by a brigadier general, head of the Rescue and Salvage Unit of the IDF. Kaplan also explained that many members are reservists. He himself received notice of his deployment only an hour and a half before boarding a military plane to Colombia. The mission, he added, will remain in the country “for as long as necessary and for as long as we can really help the Colombian people and authorities.” Israel compares the emergency to its experience in Venezuela. Israel’s presence in Colombia is part of an international disaster-response track record. Kaplan said this is the 39th delegation sent by the Israel Defense Forces to various places around the world since 1953. He also mentioned previous operations in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Regarding the earthquake in Venezuela, he explained that it had a similar magnitude but occurred at a shallower depth, resulting in more severe damage. However, he rejected drawing a direct comparison between tragedies: “Every tragedy is a tragedy in itself,” he asserted. For the Israeli adviser, the priority in an emergency should not be to quantify the disaster, but to respond to victims’ needs. “In the face of suffering, the question does not end with why it happened; it begins when we ask what we can do to help,” he stated. The Israeli mission will thus continue its work in Colombia, while national and international teams certified advance in rescue, evaluation, and assistance to communities affected by the earthquake. Q&A Block: What rescue mission did Israel send to Colombia after the 7.4 earthquake? Israel deployed a mission of 82 soldiers and specialists from the Israel Defense Forces, including rescuers, engineers, and technicians. The team arrived in Cali on August 14 to support evaluation and care efforts for structures affected by the earthquake. Where do the Israeli rescue teams work in Colombia? The Israeli delegation mainly conducts its activities in Cali, in coordination with the Risk Management Secretariat, firefighters, and local authorities. Among their tasks is inspecting healthcare and educational buildings that were damaged by the earthquake. Who finances the Israel mission sent to Colombia? The costs of the Israeli rescue mission are fully borne by the Government of Israel, so they do not represent an expense for Colombia or for the mayors participating in coordinating the operations. How long will the Israeli aid mission remain in Colombia? The delegation will stay in Colombia for as long as necessary to complete the assigned tasks and as long as it can contribute to the emergency response.

Colombia earthquake death toll rises to 314 as rescue efforts continue The death toll from the catastrophic magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia has risen to 314, according to updated figures released Wednesday by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), Anadolu Agency reported. Emergency teams are continuing to search for 262 people reported missing, while the number of injured has reached 4,437. A total of 364 people have been rescued alive from collapsed structures. The disaster has officially affected 262,154 people across 471 municipalities in 15 of Colombia’s 32 departments, according to the UNGRD. The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time (1234 GMT) on Aug. 10, becoming the most powerful seismic event to hit Colombia this century. Its epicenter was located near San Jose del Palmar in the Pacific department of Choco, at an intermediate depth of approximately 110 kilometers (68 miles). Despite the quake’s depth, widespread destruction was reported across Colombia’s western Coffee Axis and major urban centers, including Cali and Pereira. The scale of damage has severely disrupted regional health, transportation and public infrastructure. At least 30,664 homes were completely destroyed, while another 136,946 sustained structural damage. The UNGRD also reported that 302 buildings collapsed, primarily in Cali and Pereira. The earthquake damaged 3,470 schools, 4,971 community centers and 352 health care facilities. Several medical centers were forced to evacuate patients as authorities assessed the safety of their buildings. Transportation infrastructure was also badly affected, with damage reported to 449 roads, 58 vehicular bridges, 13 pedestrian bridges, 105 municipal aqueduct systems and five regional airports. In Cali and Pereira, urban assessment teams have marked hundreds of buildings with red “No Habitar” (“Do Not Occupy”) warnings, indicating that the structures could collapse. The warnings have left thousands of residents displaced and sleeping in temporary shelters or makeshift outdoor camps as authorities work to assess damaged neighborhoods. The crisis is particularly severe in remote rural areas of Choco, Caldas and Quindio, where landslides have blocked major roads and left communities isolated. Humanitarian organizations have warned that continuing seasonal rainfall could further increase the risks facing displaced residents. Contaminated water supplies and additional landslides are also raising concerns over public health and access to medical care. The scale of destruction is expected to have a major economic impact. Economists and disaster management experts estimate that initial losses from damage to buildings, roads and transportation networks could reach billions of dollars, potentially making the disaster one of the most expensive recovery efforts in modern Colombian history. With hundreds still missing and thousands displaced, rescue operations and emergency response efforts remain underway across the affected regions. News.Az By Aysel Mammadzada

Two attacks, which killed a police officer and left several people injured, marked Saturday in Colombia the first day in power of the new president Abelardo de la Espriella, who has promised radical measures to fight organized crime. This former lawyer, a representative of the hard right, begins his mandate at a time when Colombia is experiencing its worst wave of violence in a decade. In the Cesar department (north), an officer was killed in a drone attack loaded with explosives on a police station, according to the police. And on a road near the city of Cali (southwest), where the new president was inaugurated on Friday, dissidents from the Farc guerrilla destroyed with explosives a toll under construction. Security guards were slightly injured in this attack on the Pan-American Highway in the Santander de Quilichao municipality. The army attributed the toll attack to the dissident group. Near Cali, in the Cauca department, operates a dissidence of the former Farc guerrilla led by Ivan Mordisco, the most wanted guerrilla in Colombia. Farc dissidents refused to join the peace agreement reached with the government in 2016. “We are all on edge, quite tense and nervous,” Roberto Sandoval, a firefighter and resident of a neighborhood near the toll, told AFP. For President de la Espriella, “attacking the country’s infrastructure is attacking the progress, mobility, and tranquility of millions of Colombians.” There will be “no refuge, no homes, no impunity” for those responsible, he reacted on X. On his inauguration day, the new president, a representative of the hard right, pledged to fight “unremittingly narcoterrorism and all criminal organizations,” and stated that the option of dialogue with the main armed groups was completely exhausted. Mr. de la Espriella promised to intensify, with the support of Israel and the United States, bombardments against the guerrillas and drug traffickers active in Colombia and to build mega-prisons similar to the one in El Salvador. He also announced his intention to interrupt the peace talks started by his predecessor, the left-wing leader Gustavo Petro. Among his first measures, Mr. de la Espriella ordered the transfer to high-security prisons of 117 high-profile detainees who participated in the peace dialogues with Petro, the government said in a statement published Saturday. The day before, Mr. de la Espriella held his first security-focused meeting with authorities from the country’s southwest, Dilian Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca department (whose capital is Cali), announced on X. On his first day in power, the new government also announced that it would recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, as the United States did in 2020 under Donald Trump. “With this decision, Colombia seeks to revitalize its relationship with Morocco,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Olenghankoy is suing journalist John Lungila in a defamation case over a post on X, deemed defamatory by his lawyers. In a statement on Tuesday, August 18, his counsel says the allegations against him harm the honor of their client and announces the filing of a complaint with the competent authorities, including Interpol. They claim to have sufficient elements to identify the journalist involved. Field actions for the defense of the homeland continue. National deputy Joseph Nkoy Wembo, in a pedagogical manner, urged young Congolese to defend the homeland, gravely threatened in its eastern part by Rwanda and its secular arm the AFC-M23. 2022©Ouragan.cdAll rights reserved. 2022©Ouragan.cdAll rights reserved.

BOGOTA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Search teams worked through the rubble of collapsed buildings in western Colombia on Sunday, nearly a week after a powerful earthquake devastated cities and towns across the country's west, killing hundreds and leaving many more missing, injured or homeless. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck Monday morning in San Jose del Palmar, causing severe damage from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities including Cali and Pereira. Sign up here. Official estimates issued on Sunday put the death toll at around 290, with more than 140 people still missing and 4,200 injured. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in Cali and Pereira, where apartment blocks, homes, churches, schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, emergency workers continued searching unstable piles of concrete and twisted metal on Sunday as rescue efforts increasingly gave way to the recovery of bodies. "Unfortunately, there are no signs of life," Cali fire department Captain Alberto Hernandez said. "Miracles can happen, but honestly - as a believer and based on what we have seen - there is no indication that anyone is still alive." Aftershocks have added to the danger for crews working in damaged neighborhoods and for residents still unable to return home. "Work has to be done very carefully and methodically... so we do not put rescuers or community members helping at the site at further risk," Hernandez added. As hopes of finding more survivors dimmed, the relief operation was expanding. In Bogota, a stadium has been turned into the country's biggest donation collection center, while in Pereira authorities were treating injured pets and distributing donated animal food. "Horrible, it's overwhelming," said Claudia Galeano, 53, who lost her home in Pereira. Her father, Arnulfo Galeano, was pulled alive from the rubble but later died in hospital. "The earthquake took my father from me, but there are people worse off than me, left on the street, without family, without anything." The quake is the first major crisis facing President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster and now faces the task of overseeing relief and reconstruction. De La Espriella said on Sunday that Colombian billionaire banker Jaime Gilinski, who also controls food company Nutresa (NUTRESA.CN), would donate 150 billion pesos ($47.75 million) to rebuild hospitals and schools in Gilinski's hometown Cali. The Santo Domingo family, which controls a vast media empire in the nation, had already pledged $32 million on Friday. ($1 = 3,141.5000 Colombian pesos) Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota; Additional reporting by Santiago Limachi in Cali, Colombia, Felipe Leon in Pereira, Cololmbia and Javier Andres Rojas and Natalia Bejarano in Bogota; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

A delegation of experts from the Israeli Civil Defense Command is already in Colombia to provide assistance after the earthquake that affected the country. The humanitarian team arrived with the mission to support rescue and emergency response efforts, at a moment when every second can make the difference. “We have just landed here, on Colombian soil,” said one member of the delegation, highlighting that the group arrived aboard an Israeli Air Force aircraft. The mission is under the command of Brigadier General Yossi Pinto and is largely composed of reservists who received the call to travel to Colombia with less than two hours’ notice. The arrival represents a helping hand in the midst of one of the most difficult situations for the affected communities. The Israeli experts will immediately begin rescue operations, with the goal of locating and assisting people who may be trapped or in vulnerable conditions. “Every second counts,” expressed the delegation member, explaining that the mission’s purpose is to contribute their knowledge and capabilities where they are most needed. International aid adds to the efforts of emergency agencies and Colombian teams working to address the earthquake’s consequences. The delegation’s message also emphasized solidarity as a fundamental principle of the mission. “We know we cannot repair the whole world, but we can repair part of the world that is before us today,” he said. With that premise, the Israeli specialists arrive in Colombia to put their capabilities at the service of humanitarian and rescue operations. Their presence aims to help alleviate the suffering of those affected and support the on-the-ground efforts being developed.

Rescuers reported apparent signs of life under the rubble in two of the Colombian cities hit hardest by a massive earthquake, rekindling hopes Friday that more people could be found alive. Search and rescue teams from Venezuela, Argentina and Israel joined the search for survivors following the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck the South American nation on Monday, killing at least 287 people. At 96 hours since the temblor hit, the window for survival was narrowing Friday afternoon. The mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazar, told radio station FM on Friday that “contact was made with a woman who was asking for help amid the rubble” of a collapsed hotel at around 4 a.m. He suggested other people may have survived but were still trapped. Authorities in Cali also reported apparent signs of life, saying at least three people were trapped under collapsed buildings. The search and rescue effort has been extended through Saturday. Residents who lost their homes must start over again With the overall search for survivors winding down, Colombia faced another challenge: rebuilding a nation shattered by a disaster that affected more than 100,000 people. Tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed, according to the government. Authorities have also reported damage to thousands of schools, medical facilities and community centers in more than 400 cities. “There is no place to live, we lost everything,” Ebert Jonathan Morales, 38, said Friday in a shelter in Cali. Morales is one of the 102,263 people whose lives were upended by the quake. The government says nearly 4,000 people were injured and hundreds remain missing. Private groups estimate the number of missing is in the thousands. Morales said he, his wife and four children are trying to rebuild from scratch. “The earthquake destroyed several neighborhoods in the city. Many houses were damaged, and buildings collapsed,” he said. “We are going to stay here until the government gives us some help, some support.” RELATED STORY | Death toll continues to rise after 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Colombia The government focuses on providing shelter The devastation has tested Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just days before the earthquake shook the country's west. De la Espriella acknowledged Thursday night that “the situation is complex” and announced a plan to partner with private companies to rebuild, as well as subsidies for families who are homeless. “We will not overcome this tragedy alone as a government,” he said. “We need the private sector to rebuild Colombia together.” Monday’s earthquake was the most powerful to hit Colombia this century. Government aid has yet to arrive in some areas, where many people are relying on volunteers and neighbors for help. “A neighbor is giving me shelter,” Olga Castro, a mother of five in Cali, said. “At least we survived, but right now we are practically on the street because we don’t have a home anymore.” De la Espriella said national and international funds raised in response to the disaster will focus on the reconstruction of hospitals, schools, homes, roads and airports. Rebuilding the country requires a “serious technical assessment” to determine which buildings can be used, which can be repaired and which must be demolished and rebuilt, said Yezid Alvarado Vargas, a professor in construction engineering at Javeriana University, in Bogota, Colombia. “Before even discussing reconstruction, we must guarantee temporary housing, food, healthcare, continuity of basic services and economic support for families who lost their homes or livelihoods,” Alvarado said. In Bogota, Colombia’s capital, around 500 volunteers gathered at a reception center to sort food, toiletries and pet food before distributing the supplies in the most affected areas. From youngsters to the elderly, everyone diligently participated in the challenging relief efforts. “We all have to help. Today is for you, tomorrow might be for me,” volunteer Jorge Muñoz, 85, said. One of the oldest helpers at Bogota's Vive Claro aid collection, Muñoz has witnessed the devastation caused by other earthquakes, including one in 1999 that killed more than 1,180 people. EARLIER THIS YEAR | Venezuela earthquake death toll rises as hospitals face collapse National and international aid keeps coming Authorities have converted schools, parks and public buildings into shelters, providing tents, mattresses and food to the displaced. In other hard-hit cities, residents improvised shelters in the streets, while hundreds of volunteers rush to help those in need in hard-to-reach areas. “These are isolated, neglected territories, historically lacking in institutional support, already plagued by violence, and now they are hit by an earthquake of this magnitude,” said María Mercedes Liévano, director of Save the Children in Colombia. “It’s a crisis on top of a crisis, leaving the population in a situation of extreme vulnerability,” she added, citing communities including Buenaventura, the country’s main port, and Choco, the earthquake’s epicenter. Many buildings in Pereira have limited or no access to electricity and water, and volunteers have been delivering hygiene kits to displaced families in the city's shelters, said Pamela Londoño, a technical adviser with Project HOPE. Of the five or six shelters in the city, at least one is already full and no longer accepting new residents. The nonprofit is also assessing medical supply needs. Other areas are also suffering, such as the town of Roldanillo, where approximately 60% of residents do not have access to clean water. “The main concern is the lack of basic services for multiple communities,” Londoño said. “This is a really critical situation.” De la Espriella visited several cities to track relief efforts and aid distribution, including Quibdo, in the Choco region, and Pereira. Authorities are still waiting for tons of supplies and humanitarian aid from countries that have pledged their support, including Peru, China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. “My heart, my strength and my spirit are with all the victims and with all these territories that have been forgotten and now devastated by nature,” he said. “We must rebuild them. There is a great task ahead and I am committed to it.” The Trump administration announced Friday an additional $11 million in humanitarian aid — including food, health, protection and shelter assistance — bringing the total U.S. assistance following the earthquake to $26.5 million. The U.S. “continues to coordinate with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and the Colombian government to assess and respond to earthquake-related needs,” the State Department said in a statement.

Rescuers raced against time in Colombia on Friday to free a man found alive beneath a collapsed hotel, a rare sign of hope nearly four days after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Andean nation in decades reduced neighborhoods to rubble and left hundreds dead or missing. The operation in the coffee-region city of Pereira had become the main focus of a disaster response increasingly shifting from the search for survivors to the grim work of clearing debris and accounting for the missing. "Possibly there are (still) people alive, we believe so," rescuer John Bedoya told Caracol Television from the site, where emergency crews worked through a mound of concrete, brick and twisted metal. "One or two could be alive." The 7.4-magnitude quake struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. It toppled apartment blocks and damaged homes, schools and hospitals across western Colombia, from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to the inland cities of Cali and Pereira. Authorities said on Friday morning that 285 people had been killed and nearly 4,000 injured. Nearly 400 others were still missing. The government said tens of thousands of homes were damaged and many destroyed, underlining the scale of a disaster that has left many Colombians sleeping in shelters or outside unsafe buildings. Quake could trigger more displacement, UN warns The UN refugee agency warned on Friday the earthquake could trigger fresh displacement in a country already grappling with conflict, migration and other humanitarian pressures. "For internally displaced people and refugees who are already trying to rebuild their lives, this earthquake risks becoming another displacement on top of displacement," UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun told reporters in Geneva. Authorities have recorded scores of aftershocks since Monday, adding to the danger for rescuers combing through unstable debris and for families reluctant to return to damaged homes. The disaster is shaping up as the first major test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the quake and has faced criticism for his initial handling of the disaster. He is set to make flying visits to five affected cities and towns on Friday, including Pereira, Cali and Quibdó. World Bank says it disbursed $200 million to Colombia for quake response The World Bank on Friday said it had disbursed $200 million to Colombia for its emergency response to the quake. The multilateral development bank said it was working with the Colombian government and development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to address immediate needs, while laying the foundations for recovery. The bank said it had also launched a Global Rapid Assessment of Damages from Earthquakes (GRADE) to provide the Colombian government with an early assessment of damages and economic losses to help Bogota prioritize aid and reconstruction efforts. Efforts were underway to channel financing to affected communities and businesses, including support for public health, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises, the bank said. The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.

Hopes fade in Colombia as more bodies recovered days after powerful quake BOGOTA, Colombia — Hopes of finding survivors of the earthquake that struck western Colombia five days ago were dwindling on Saturday, as more bodies were pulled from buildings that collapsed due to the 7.4-magnitude quake that left hundreds dead or missing. The earthquake struck just after 7:30 a.m. in San Jose del Palmar, toppling apartment buildings and damaging schools, churches, hospitals and homes from the Pacific port Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities. At least 294 people have died with 320 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, Colombia's disaster management unit estimated on Saturday. Over two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira. "We have only one site where there are signs of life," Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters. "At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies." With over 2 million inhabitants, Cali is Colombia's third-biggest city. Rescue workers continued through the morning to sift through mountains of shattered concrete, bricks and metal to find those who remain unaccounted for, while others were cleaning their neighborhoods armed with brooms and shovels. Hernandez said they would likely finish recovering bodies by Sunday, after which they will begin using heavy equipment to clear the debris. Juana Catano, who coordinates a citizens' action group, told Reuters efforts were now focused on recovery and rebuilding. "We are in a time of overwhelming mourning," she said. Hundreds sleep outdoors The deaths of people who had become national symbols further dwindled hopes late into the week. Daniela Largo, 32, died in hospital after surviving 36 hours under the rubble, and 24-year-old Juan Felipe Giraldo was found dead after an intense operation at a collapsed hotel. Giraldo, whose father spent days by the collapsed building waiting for news, had been set to get married on Sunday. He leaves behind a 2-year-old son. Thousands of people gathered in the cities of Medellin and Bogota to donate food, clothing and medicine to donation centers for distribution to areas devastated by the quake. In the city of Pereira, deep in Colombia's coffee-growing region, hundreds of people spent the night on mats or in tents at a makeshift shelter in a park, where coordinators said there was a lack of blankets, tents, hygiene products and food. A report by the disaster management unit found that thousands of homes were destroyed by Monday's quake, leaving hundreds sleeping outdoors in shelters and waiting to find out whether damaged apartments are at risk of collapsing. Colombia has recorded 269 aftershocks since the quake, piling on dangers for rescue workers and volunteers still sifting through the unstable rubble. Request for tariff relief The disaster became the first major challenge for President Abelardo De La Espriella, a political newcomer who took office a week ago and will now oversee relief efforts and reconstruction in the wake of one of Colombia's worst natural disasters. De La Espriella has faced some criticism over his handling of the initial hours, particularly for not accepting offers of rescue teams from certain countries. Authorities later received some response teams from Israel and the United States. The recent election victory of the right-wing president, who campaigned on a platform of tougher austerity and security measures, marks a rapprochement with Washington which has floated joint strikes on armed groups operating in the country. De La Espriella said on Saturday he spoke with President Donald Trump in a 10-minute phone call, during which Trump expressed his condolences and he requested the U.S. temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods to help business owners. The U.S. Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Today, more than ever, the alliance between Colombia and the United States is essential for the reconstruction of our beloved nation," De La Espriella said on X.

Six days have passed since the deadly earthquake in Colombia, and the painful stories continue to emerge as rescue teams, including the Israeli delegation, search for signs of life beneath the rubble. One of the most heartbreaking stories, which has made headlines around the world, is that of triplet sisters — only one of whom survived. It happened in Cali, one of the cities hardest hit by the 7.4-magnitude quake, which killed at least 294 people and injured more than 3,900. Ana Maria survived the collapse of the house and found shelter under a wooden table. Neighbors heard her cries and rescued her shortly after the four-story building where she lived collapsed. But her sisters, Isabella and Sofia, who were trapped under a staircase, were not as lucky. They and their parents, Jairo Saavedra, 63, and Victoria Caicedo, 61, were killed in the disaster. Rescuers found the parents embracing in the bedroom of the apartment where they lived. Until the earthquake, the 23-year-old sisters had been inseparable. They studied marketing together at university, spent their final semester in France and worked in the same field in Cali. “The neighbors say they heard Ana Maria screaming and immediately came to her aid and evacuated her to a clinic,” Carlos Saavedra, Ana Maria’s cousin, told Agence France-Presse. He said she underwent surgery for a pelvic fracture and is recovering. “She is fully conscious, completely lucid and speaking,” he said, adding that she is receiving psychological support. Speaking sadly of the sisters, he said: “They were super cheerful, loved spending a lot of time with their family, loved music, loved salsa.” On Friday evening, a joint rescue delegation from Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Home Front Command landed in Colombia and immediately began operating at destruction sites in Cali as part of an operation called “Brit Re’im,” or “Covenant of Friends.” The delegation is working at two major destruction sites and helping in the effort to locate and rescue people trapped under the rubble, alongside many local volunteers. At the city’s university hospital, the delegation’s engineers are working alongside local professionals. They are providing engineering advice and guidance on clearing the rubble while dealing with a particularly complex challenge: removing debris without shutting down the hospital’s operations. At the same time, delegation teams, commanded by Brig. Gen. Yossi Pinto, began mapping and classifying buildings damaged in the earthquake together with local authorities, with the aim of helping create a quick and accurate assessment and set priorities for continued work in the field. Ambassador Alon Lavi, the Foreign Ministry representative in the delegation, said: “It is moving to see the Israeli rescuers and engineers working shoulder to shoulder with their Colombian colleagues. From the moment we arrived, we encountered exceptional cooperation and an incredible spirit of volunteerism from the local population, which is fully mobilizing for the rescue efforts. We are proud to be here and to assist the Colombian people at this difficult time.”