Israel Expands Earthquake Recovery Mission in Venezuela

Israel's Foreign Ministry said today (Monday) that, at the request of the Venezuelan government, which is dealing with the aftermath of the deadly earthquakes that struck the country about two weeks ago, the Israeli delegation sent to assist in rescue efforts will expand its mission to help develop a rehabilitation plan for the devastated areas.

The ministry said that alongside the dozens of delegation members operating on the ground, a team of about 20 experts has been established in Israel. The team is analyzing conditions on the ground and helping formulate the recovery plan. According to the statement, the plan has already been presented to the minister overseeing the response in Venezuela and will also be presented to the country's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, in the coming days.

The ministry added that local media documented Rodríguez thanking the Israeli delegation and describing it as "a team with a very high level of training and professionalism." According to her, the delegation's arrival was made possible through the efforts of the Jewish community in Venezuela, and she expressed gratitude "for the coordination that made it possible to establish contact with the Israeli government and bring a team of experts here."

Rodríguez also said the team has already begun implementing the protocol for launching the infrastructure recovery process and assessing conditions. She noted that the experts have advanced capabilities that enable them to locate survivors or victims beneath the rubble even before reconstruction work begins.

According to official figures released by the Venezuelan government, the death toll has risen to more than 2,954, while the fate of approximately 41,000 missing people remains unknown. Tens of thousands have also been left homeless.

The Israeli delegation includes personnel from the Foreign Ministry, Home Front Command, and the National Emergency Authority. It is the first Israeli delegation to arrive in Venezuela since diplomatic relations were severed in 2009. The delegation is headed by Brig. Gen. Elad Edri, chief of staff of the Home Front Command.