An Israeli aid delegation landed in Cali, Colombia, on Friday to assist with rescue operations, the Foreign Ministry announced, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake shook the country earlier this week.
The 80-person delegation includes officials from the IDF, the Defense Ministry, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the mission on Wednesday following newly appointed Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella’s request for Israel to do so.
Currently, Colombia has requested rescue teams from only four countries: the US, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Israel.
Ahead of the delegation’s arrival, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sent a Foreign Ministry team to Cali to receive the delegation and coordinate rescue operations.
The midwestern city is Colombia’s third-largest and one of the hardest hit by the natural disaster.
Foreign Ministry representative and Ambassador to Guatemala and El Salvador Alon Lavi, along with IDF rescue unit commander Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Yossi Pinto, departed for Cali immediately after landing to assess the situation and survey relevant rescue sites.
Delegation dubbed ‘Alliance of Friends’
The team, dubbed the “Alliance of Friends,” is expected to begin its humanitarian assistance efforts in the coming hours.
Colombian authorities confirmed Friday morning that around 400 people remain missing nearly four days after the quake, whose epicenter was in the vulnerable Chocó department on the country’s Pacific coast.
The death toll currently stands at 285, and the number of injured at around 4,000.
Vivian Eisein, Israel’s new ambassador to Colombia, received the green light from Colombian officials to join the rescue efforts and is expected to land in the country on Monday.
