The IDF Home Front Command’s “Brit Re’im" delegation continues to operate in Cali, Colombia, one week after the earthquake struck the country. The team is searching for missing people at disaster sites while also mapping and assessing hundreds of damaged buildings.
Delegation commander Col. Yossi Pinto told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that there are five active disaster sites in Cali, a city that, according to Pinto, is home to some two million people in the surrounding area. The Israeli delegation is operating at three of the sites alongside local forces, international teams and volunteers.
Pinto said the delegation departed for Colombia approximately 96 hours after the earthquake, with its teams heading directly from the airport to the disaster sites. “This is the largest delegation to arrive in Colombia. Several smaller delegations have also arrived. We brought a high level of expertise and a large amount of equipment," he said.
The delegation’s primary mission is to locate missing people and conduct rescue operations at the disaster sites. Asked how many people the forces had managed to rescue so far, Pinto replied, “We have not rescued any live survivors yet. In every case, they were already dead. We are trying to make the most of the time remaining, and as I said, time is running out."
Pinto noted that the chances of finding additional survivors are lowered as the days pass. “Tomorrow morning we will enter the eighth day since the earthquake, and we are aware that the chances of finding missing people alive decrease as time passes. I estimate that within the next two days we will complete this stage and move, together with the authorities, to the recovery phase," he said.
Alongside the search efforts, the delegation has deployed engineering teams to inspect damaged buildings and assess their condition. “Quite a few buildings have suffered varying degrees of damage, and we are essentially assessing the extent of the damage," Pinto explained. He added that a team of experts is touring the city with local authorities to map the affected buildings.
The delegation is also assisting with situation-management and data systems brought from Israel and adapted to Colombia’s needs. “We bring experience and unique capabilities that enable us to operate much more efficiently," he said.
Pinto said the delegation maintains continuous contact with government officials and local authorities. “We are seeing a very high level of operational cooperation here. We are in constant communication at every level, from regional officials to ministers. They greatly appreciate the delegation’s work and Israel’s efforts," he said.
According to Pinto, the Israeli delegation’s added value is also reflected in the time it saves at complex disaster sites. “If we have to point to our added value, we are very precise in our operations. At a site where they might have worked for many days, we shorten the process and make more efficient use of resources," he said.
Pinto, who arrived in Colombia after the delegation returned from an operation in Venezuela about three weeks ago, also spoke about the responsibility involved in the mission. “I see it as a great privilege to lead this mission. The people with us are very special, and we are doing our best to carry out the work as well as possible," he said.