Israeli Delegation Shares Inside Look at Colombia Earthquake Mission

“When you finally pinpoint a location and, with everyone supporting you, find the missing person, it’s a feeling that is impossible to put into words.”

By United with Israel Staff

An Israeli rescue delegation has been operating in Colombia for more than a week, assisting with search efforts and civilian intelligence gathering following the devastating earthquake that struck the country.

The approximately 80-member “Alliance of Brothers” delegation departed Israel on Aug. 10 and includes search-and-rescue personnel and specialists from both the standing army and reserves. The Israeli teams have been operating at five major sites in the city of Cali.

“At the first stage, the effort focused on gathering information from the population and trying to understand how many people might be trapped inside the buildings,” said Lt. Col. A., commander of the IDF Home Front Command’s Tavor Battalion. “One of the first challenges we encountered was the language barrier.”

Spanish-speaking personnel accompanying the delegation helped Israeli rescuers communicate with residents and coordinate with local teams. Within hours, the combined effort produced an intelligence picture that allowed rescuers to determine where to concentrate their searches.

As hopes of finding additional survivors diminished, the Israeli teams shifted their efforts toward locating missing people and recovering them from the rubble.

“Unfortunately, when we arrived, we understood that we would probably find people who had not survived,” Lt. Col. A. said.

He described the painstaking work inside collapsed structures, where rescuers rely on engineering equipment, information gathered from residents and cooperation with Colombian and international rescue teams.

“The rescuers at the heart of the destruction work almost ‘like robots’ so they can carry out the mission as professionally and safely as possible,” he said. “When you finally pinpoint a location and, with everyone supporting you, find the missing person, it’s a feeling that is impossible to put into words.”

The Israeli delegation has also worked closely with local volunteers, whom Lt. Col. A. described as full partners in the rescue effort.

In one encounter, an Israeli representative addressed approximately 150 local residents, explaining the delegation’s mission before concluding with the traditional Jewish Priestly Blessing, ending with the words, “May He grant you peace.”

“Language differences don’t matter when people come together to save lives,” Lt. Col. A. said.

“Not all of us speak Spanish, but when a Colombian mother sees what you’re doing and simply says ‘gracias,’ it fills your heart,” he added. “We’re here to stay and complete the mission properly.”