Israel Sends Rescue and Humanitarian Aid Team to Colombia After Earthquake

The rescue delegation prepares for takeoff (Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

Israel is sending a rescue and humanitarian aid delegation to Colombia tonight (Thursday), following the earthquake that struck the country. The delegation, made up of approximately 80 personnel, will depart from the Nevatim Airbase aboard Israeli Air Force aircraft and will begin rescue and aid operations on the ground immediately upon landing.

The delegation, called "Brit Re’im," is a joint effort of the IDF, the Defense Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry, and is jointly led by the Home Front Command and the Foreign Ministry. Its members include a rescue force and specialists in a range of fields, serving in both regular and reserve duty.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the central mission defined by Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klepper is to provide immediate assistance to rescue efforts in order to save lives. To do so, delegation members will rapidly map the damaged sites, helping focus the rescue forces’ operations.

Alongside rescue operations, the delegation will also provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the earthquake, including the distribution of food and water packages. The force’s activities will be coordinated with local authorities and their Colombian counterparts through Israel’s embassy in the country.

The rescue force is headed by Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Pinto, commander of the Home Front Command’s National Rescue and Rescue Unit. In total, the delegation includes approximately 80 personnel, including rescue workers and specialists in a variety of fields.

The delegation is being deployed in accordance with instructions from Israel’s political leadership. Earlier, it was reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that the delegation be sent, after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar offered Israeli assistance to his Colombian counterpart, Bola, following the earthquake.