Israel ends Venezuela quake mission; will continue assisting remotely

Israel’s aid delegation to earthquake-stricken Venezuela has completed its mission and returned to Israel after around three weeks operating in the South American country, the Foreign Ministry announces in a statement.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez — at whose request the delegation had extended its stay and who had approved a national reconstruction plan prepared by the Israeli team — held a meeting with representatives from the IDF and Foreign Ministry ahead of their departure, expressing her appreciation for their efforts, according to the statement.

Following the delegation’s return to Israel, Israeli expert teams will continue providing professional guidance and support to the Venezuelan authorities remotely, the ministry adds.

During the meeting, Rodriguez “thanked the members of the delegation for their contribution,” while members of the delegation “presented key elements of the recovery plan developed jointly with the Venezuelan authorities, which will continue to serve as the framework for the professional support provided after the completion of the field mission,” the ministry says.

The delegation — initially led by chief of staff of the Home Front Command, Elad Edri, and Israel’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Yoed Magen, and later by commander of the IDF National Search and Rescue Unit, Yossi Pinto, and Ambassador Gil Artzyeli — operated in several earthquake-hit areas at the request of the Venezuelan government, assessing and classifying damaged buildings and assisting with reconstruction efforts following the earthquakes that were estimated to kill at least 3,889 people.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the Israeli delegation for not only helping the country recover but also “rebuilding relations” with Caracas on a diplomatic level, nearly two decades after it severed ties with Israel.