An Israeli search-and-rescue delegation has landed in Valencia and begun working alongside local forces, according to rescue officials. The 16-person team from Magen, Ready for Rescue, and SmartAID is assisting in the earthquake zone. Venezuela's Jewish community has launched a $2 million emergency fund, with leaders reporting that about 80 Jewish families lost homes and another 200 are too afraid to return due to destruction.
The Israeli rescue delegation has landed in Valencia and begun field operations, with the 16-person team from Magen, Ready for Rescue, and SmartAID working alongside local forces to locate survivors. The Jewish community of Venezuela has simultaneously launched a $2 million emergency fundraising drive, with leaders reporting about 80 Jewish families lost their homes and another 200 are afraid to return due to the devastation.
The deployment builds on The Zioneer's earlier reporting. The desk first reported on Friday, Jun 26, 03:23 Jerusalem that a Jewish community leader reported three dead and one missing from the community. By Friday, Jun 26, 16:32 Jerusalem, the desk reported the first Israeli rescue mission had departed for Venezuela. Monday morning, Jun 29, 09:13 Jerusalem, four successive updates within minutes tracked the team's arrival in Venezuela, its start of field operations, and the official death toll reaching 1,450 with some 50,000 still missing. A separate article published at Mon 14:25 Jerusalem cited team members describing the destruction as "exceptionally severe."
As The Zioneer reported on Thursday, Jun 25, 14:29 Jerusalem, Israel's Foreign Ministry was assessing a possible humanitarian mission despite the absence of diplomatic ties since 2009. By Friday, Jun 26, 04:02 Jerusalem, the desk reported the death toll had crossed 1,400, with experts warning of a catastrophic final tally reaching 55,000. The international rescue effort, as The Zioneer reported on Saturday, Jun 27, 00:59 Jerusalem, had swelled to 16 nations, including an EU activation of its civil protection mechanism dispatching 520 rescuers.
The full extent of damage to the Jewish community remains unverified, as communications in some affected areas remain disrupted. The $2 million fundraising target and the number of displaced families are based on community leaders' accounts, not independently confirmed.
5 developments
- DevelopingFirst Israeli rescue mission departs for Venezuela
- DevelopingJewish Agency opens emergency hotline for Israeli families following Venezuela earthquake
- StrongKKL-JNF prepares hundreds of thousands in aid for Venezuela's Jewish community
- StrongIsrael considers humanitarian aid mission to earthquake-stricken Venezuela
Source and signal
- Internal intake